STAFF at one of Bolton's B&Q stores feared for their jobs today after the company announced it is to shut 22 of its branches

A further 16 stores are to be downsized because of what were described as the "toughest" market conditions for years.

While B&Q chiefs did not specify which stores would be closed, it confirmed that those being shut were in markets "already well served by other B&Q stores".

Bolton has two stores; the B&Q Warehouse on Bolton Gate Retail Park, and the nearby DIY Supercentre on Crompton Way.

The two sites employ a total of 250 people, with 60 working at the Supercentre.

It is thought that the DIY Supercentre could be among those at risk of closure.

The company has other stores in Bury, Swinton and Leigh.

The 16 B&Q stores to be downsized will be converted to a mini-warehouse format and the space released will be given over to other retailers, parent group Kingfisher said.

The consumer slowdown has hit sales of DIY goods hard and earlier this month B&Q axed 400 office jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Kingfisher said profits for the six months to July 30 fell to £250.8million from £287.6 million last year.

A spokesman for the company said: "It has been a challenging period for Kingfisher.

"Difficult trading conditions in the UK and France had a clear impact on the first-half trading performance."

Kingfisher added it would take a one-off charge of £200m to cover the costs of the store changes and job cuts.

Earlier this year, Lord Hunt, Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Lords from the Department of work and Pensions, said Bolton's B&Q Warehouse was a "model" employer during a visit.

He praised the initiative taken by B&Q, where more than a fifth of the staff in Bolton are over 50 years old.