The 16 Irish stores of retailer HMV are to close with the loss of 300 jobs.

The news comes after the receiver of the music chain in Ireland issued a statement confirming that the shops - which had been temporarily closed - will not re-open.

Deloitte says the stores had been closed by HMV prior to receivership at which point the 300 staff were placed on temporary lay-off.

They will now be made redundant.

The news is not unexpected but will be greeted by disappointment by workers who had hoped a buyer could be found.

The receiver says all of the stores were loss making and it was not possible to attract a purchaser.

UK stores also set to shut

HMV separately operates 220 stores in the UK.

66 of the UK-based stores have been tagged for closure which will affect stores 930 staff based in Britain.

The joint administrators there say no fixed date is set for the closure of these stores but it is expected that closures will take place over the next 2 months.