B&Q Ireland's Athlone store has been given a reprieve after the company managed to negotiate a better rent deal with its landlord.
The Kingfisher-owned company entered examinership in January, putting the future of the chain of nine stores at risk. The Athlone and Waterford stores were immediately earmarked for closure and it was thought likely that another two would have to shut.

B&Q Ireland said the viability of the company depended on being able to achieve "substantially improved terms" on rents. The successful outcome for the Athlone branch means that it will now return to normal opening hours and continue trading providing the examinership process for the chain as a whole results in a sustainable business. Forty-five jobs have been saved through the Athlone deal.

Meanwhile, the company continues to negotiate with landlords at its other sites, although the closure of the Waterford store will go ahead as planned on May 4.

In total B&Q Ireland employs 690 people at its stores, the rest of which are in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Naas, Liffey Valley, Swords and Tallaght.