Gap is set to close all its U.K. stores as the brand moves online in another blow to the high street.

In Basingstoke, this means the town stands to lose its Festival Place branch.

The news comes in the same week that John Lewis confirmed its Basing View store would close permanently, leaving 93 people at risk of redundancy. 

Now tonight, the US fashion giant behemoth has confirmed it plans to close all its 81 shops.

The brand will move online-online, following the likes of Debenhams and Topshop.

The firm said it would close all its stores "in a phased manner" between the end of August and the end of September.

This will mean another empty shop in Festival Place, joining the likes of Debenhams, Zara and Topshop whose former premises haven't been filled since their closures over the past twelve months. 

The company has not disclosed how many employees the closures will affect, but will shortly start a consultation process with the staff, the BBC reports.

A Gap spokesperson said the decision followed a strategic review of its European business.