DEBENHAMS has announced it plans to opens its doors to customers again on Mondayy, June 15.

It says 90 stores will open on that date, growing to 120 over the summer.

In April it announced it was shutting its Warrington shop in Golden Square for good only later to agree a new deal with the landowners in a deal brokered by Warrington Borough Council.

Bosses plan to reopen with a slimmed down head office, which employs around 3,000 people, as staff leave from mechandising, buying, design and HR departments, according to initial reports by Reuters.

Debenhams was already struggling before the lockdown, having fallen into administration on April 9 in a protective measure against creditors demanding their money.

Since the coronavirus pandemic shut all non-food retailers, the department store has announced the permanent closure of 12 stores, with thousands of job losses.

A spokesman said: "In the context of a retail industry undergoing profound change, the management team is working on the future shape of the group, with a view to seeking an exit from administration as a going concern.

"With a leaner and more flexible operating model, Debenhams will have the ability to adapt to what are likely to be fundamental shifts in the future trading environment."

The company did not confirm exactly how many positions would go, beyond saying in the "hundreds".

Bosses are expected to learn the lessons from Debenhams' Danish stores, trading as Magasin du Nord, which has already reopened following easing of lockdown restrictions in the country.

Protective equipment for colleagues, guidelines to manage changing rooms, queuing systems, shorter hours and fewer services are all understood to be under consideration.