BRITAIN’S supermarket chains descended into further chaos yesterday as Yorkshire-based Morrisons announced plans to shut 10 of its 500 stores with hundreds of job losses.

The news followed the earlier announcement that Sainsbury’s is to axe 500 jobs as part of a cost-cutting programme which includes store closures.

And Tesco announced just days ago that it is to shut its head office in Hertfordshire with the closure or sale of 100 stores, with 5,000 staff at risk.

Morrisons, which began life as a stall at Bradford market 110 years ago, is refusing to name the 10 stores involved until staff at the stores have been informed.

More than 400 jobs are to be cut.

Supermarket staff trade union Usdaw vowed to fight to protect as many jobs as possible.

Usdaw national officer Joanne McGuinness said: “This is devastating news for the staff in the 10 stores that Morrisons intends to close.

“We will now enter into full and meaningful consultation meetings on these proposals, where we will look closely at the company’s business case.

“Our priority is to maximise employment within Morrisons, seek redeployment opportunities for members whose shop is closed and minimise compulsory redundancies.

“We will support, advise and represent our members throughout this period of uncertainty.”

Morrisons chief executive officer Dalton Phillips is stepping down in March after the company announced declining sales.

At the firm’s most recent annual meeting retired company chairman Sir Ken Morrison criticised the chain’s current management.