Halfords has earmarked 60 of its stores for closures, accelerating its rate of planned closures following the coronavirus pandemic.

The cycling and automotive specialist plans to shutter outlets across its retail stores and autocentres with up to 60 stores up for closure. Staff at affected stores are expected to be redeployed across other outlets.

The retailer, which prior to the pandemic was closing around six of its stores per year, has said it is accelerating the “right-sizing of the group” and closing stores that were already in the pipeline for closure at a quicker rate than previously planned.

Halfords is in the process of renegotiating a range of leases in stores that are up for renewal.

The move to close stores shortly follows the retailer beating forecasts in its full-year results earlier this month.

The retailer’s overall retail sales slipped 2.7% despite a 57% surge in like-for-like cycling sales during lockdown due to subdued motoring sales.