Toy retailer The Entertainer has confirmed it will be operating click and collect for customers until midday on Christmas Eve and has launched its January sales early.

In a statement the retailer said it would be allowing customers to click and collect from all of its stores until midday on Christmas Eve, including in areas currently operating under tier four coronavirus restrictions. 

The Entertainer said this means “provided the product is in stock at their chosen store, customers will be able to order until midday on Christmas Eve and collect it before the store closes”.

While most of the retailer’s stores in the South East and London remain open, it said three stores in Romford Mercury, Bromley Upper Mall and Stevenage were closed.

The retailer said it will also be offering express delivery on items for customers up until 3pm on Christmas Eve. 

This announcement comes as the retailer launched its January sales early, on December 21, offering up to 80% off a range of products including L.O.L Surprise, Barbie, Disney, Shopkins, Paw Patrol and Hot Wheels.

The moves come as the retail industry continues to be rocked by store closures and disruption caused by the latest restrictions across the South East of England due to coronavirus in the run up to Christmas. 

The Entertainer chief executive Gary Grant told Retail Week: “The lockdown, which is affecting 50 of our shops, is a body blow in one of our biggest weeks of the year.

“We totally understand the need to be vigilant in these difficult times, but from a business perspective it’s a challenge because the stock’s in the shops; we’re ready to sell it, but we can’t.”