IT HAS been a part of the high street for almost 90 years, but today BHS will start to close its stores.

Thirty of British Home Stores remaining 114 sites will close for the final time today, including the Portsmouth store in the Cascades Shopping Centre.

The remaining stores will cease trading before August 20. This includes the shop in Fareham.

Administrator Duff & Phelps has already shut 20 stores, affecting 580 staff, and will shut another 30 today, affecting another 700 employees.

BHS went into administration in April and after being unable to secure a buyer, announced in June that it would be wound down.

More than 11,000 workers will lose their jobs as a result of the closures.