Up-for-sale hardware and homewares chain Robert Dyas is expected to enter exclusivity with a buyer next month.

A source said: “We are well into the sale process. Within the next four weeks we expect to give exclusivity to one party. By early June it should be sold.”

Another source said there are five interested parties, including trade and private equity. It is thought variety store Wilkinson is among them.

Robert Dyas has been up for sale since last year and is expected to fetch £25m. It is majority owned by its lenders after they conducted a debt-for-equity swap in 2009.