Bookseller Waterstones is to shut six of its 12 shops on university campuses but said it remains committed to the academic books market.

The loss-making shops, located in Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Derby, Keele and Swansea, are set to close on April 26.

However, the retailer insisted it remains “committed to the academic market and to its core of profitable campus shops”.

It added that it expects to make a “significant investment” in its remaining campus shops, including Gower Street in London and Hodges Figgis in Dublin.

Waterstones said it has entered into consultation with the 28 affected staff, and it hopes to redeploy as many booksellers as it can to other branches.

A Waterstones spokesman said: “We thank all those that have served in the affected shops, and the many students and other customers and institutions that have supported them over the years.”