THOUSANDS OF jobs will be lost as Carphone Warehouse announces it is to close all of its standalone mobile phone stores in the UK.

Carphone Warehouse, which has stores across the North-East, said it expected to make 2,900 roles redundant as part of a 'rescue plan.'

Announcing its affected 531 stores - including all high street standalone stores - Dixons Carphone said stores would close on April 3.

The Northern Echo understands that its employees were told via an internal email sent this morning.

Carphone Warehouse group chief executive Alex Baldock said: "There's never an easy time for an announcement like this, but the turbulent times ahead only underline the importance of acting now."

He added: "We're working hard to look after those colleagues we can't find new roles for, financially and otherwise."

Mr Baldock said he would be paying staff 'enhanced redundancy' and would assist employees with finding new jobs.

It is understood that the firm is hoping almost 40 percent of employees affected will take up other roles within the Dixons Carphone group, while all of its 'Store-in-Store' Carphone Warehouse branches inside Currys PC World will remain open.

A spokesperson for Dixons Carphone said: "We are aware that our stores could experience a significant reduction in sales in the months ahead and we are modelling a range of downside scenarios and planning accordingly.

"We are ready to switch more fulfilment to our online and direct channels and we will manage our costs and cash closely, including a tight control of capital expenditure if necessary."

The stores that will close on April 3

Carphone Warehouse Darlington - Northgate

Carphone Warehouse Stockton - Wellington Square 

Carphone Warehouse Stockton - Teesside Park

Carphone Warehouse Middlesbrough - Linthorpe Road

Carphone Warehouse Middlesbrough - Cleveland Retail Park

Carphone Warehouse Hartlepool - Anchor Park

Carphone Warehouse Durham - Silver Street

Carphone Warehouse Durham - Arnison Centre

Carphone Warehouse Washington - The Galleries 

Carphone Warehouse Sunderland - Market Square 

Carphone Warehouse Gateshead - MetroCentre (yellow mall)

Carphone Warehouse Newcastle - Eldon Square

Carphone Warehouse Newcastle - Kingston Park

Carphone Warehouse South Shields - King Street

Carphone Warehouse Scarborough - Brunswick 

Carphone Warehouse Whitley Bay