TWENTY retail outlets in the North-East formerly owned by stricken supermarket chain Kwik Save are being sold, with a high level of interest already received from potential bidders.

The stores are being sold after Kwik Save was put into administration last Thursday, with the immediate closure of 90 stores nationwide. The chain had already closed 81 stores last month.

Hundreds of jobs were lost as a result, and many of the firm's staff had been working without wages for the previous six weeks in the hope the company could survive

Last Friday, rival chain FreshXpress stepped in to buy 56 of Kwik Save's remaining stores for £18m.

Ten in the North-East were saved as a result of the deal, but the 20 that were doomed to closure are now being sold.

Property consultant King Sturge is overseeing the sale, and said that talks are already under way with "several interested parties," including retailers, landlords and developers.

Jonathan Newns, head of King Sturge's Northern in-town retail team, said: "We are, as expected, experiencing a burst of interest in the better-located stores and expect these to go quickly, especially where there is tenant interest or development potential and inquiries are coming in from developers, retailers and landlords.

"Other former Kwik Save stores which do not meet these important criteria are likely to take a little longer."