SEVERAL B&M stores across Greater Manchester have been mothballed as part of the response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The discount retail giant has closed down 49 locations nationwide, after reviewing trading operations.

And stores in Bury, Bolton and Oldham are among those sites where trading has been temporarily suspended.

Bosses there say that those which have ceased trading in the short-term are often in places where they form part of a shopping centre which has largely closed for trading.

In Bury, the company's Mill Gate shopping centre outlet is among those to close - but their premises on Crostons Retail Park and at Heywood remain open.

And in Bolton, B&M at Bolton's Burnden Retail Park is currently closed but their branches in Manchester Road and Breightmet are unaffected.

Other stores in Oldham's Spindles Shopping Centre, while their Oldham Hill Street and Chadderton outlets remain trading. And their Altrincham and Sale branches have not closed their doors.

A spokesman for B&M said: “We will review the trading patterns on an on-going basis and intend to re-open those stores as soon as normal shopping patterns resume."