More than 200 Countrywide staff have lost their jobs.Administrators said the redundancies were “unavoidable” as they began closing stores.

A total of 208 people have been made redundant at Countrywide’s headquarters in Evesham, the Defford logistics centre and stores said to have no prospect of sale as going concerns.

“All affected staff have been informed and will be paid up to and including their last day of employment,” said David Pike, partner at KPMG and joint administrator.

Buyers have been found for 14 former Countrywide branches saving 169 jobs. Wynnstay has agreed to acquire the business and assets of eight stores in the south-west for £800,000, adjusted for stock valuation.

Administrators said they are hopeful of achieving four further sales from the remaining trading leasehold stores. The buyer is rumoured to be Mole Valley Farmers whose initial offer for all 48 Countrywide stores was blocked by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).