VIRGIN Media says it won’t reopen the 53 UK stores it closed during coronavirus lockdown.

The cable and TV firm is moving its oeprations away from the high street, but says all 341 workers affected will be offered new roles.

They include around 300 jobs in customer care, with another 50 dedicated to field sales, the Mirror reports.

Staff have been working from home during the lockdown, which the company says has been a success.

Rob Orr, executive director for sales at Virgin Media, said: “We are focused on delivering the service customers want, in the ways they want it and at a time and place that suits them.

“By creating new jobs in our most popular care and sales channels, we will be better able to provide our customers with the top service and support they rightly expect while retaining our talented workforce.”

The telecoms giant also recently hired 700 engineers, most of whom were working for the cable company but employed by third-party businesses.

They have helped ensure it has the staff numbers to continue to carry out home visits, including installations and repairs.

The company, which employs 12,000 people, is set to merge with mobile operator O2 to create a £31billion rival to BT.