Under-performing UK stores are among 15 earmarked for closure by B&Q, says owner Kingfisher.

Announcing the search for a successor to CEO Veronique Laury, who is to leave the business, the company said the closures would be on top of 19 planned Screwfix closures in Germany.

Kingfisher said 11 of the 15 under-performing stores to be axed over the next two years will be in France, while four B&Q branches will be in the UK and Romania.

However, more Screwfix stores may be opened in the UK following the trade-orientated subsidiary’s current buoyant performance, with a possible target of 800 outlets across Britain during 2019 and 2020.

A company statement said that while the majority of stores were delivering satisfactory returns on capital, some were loss making. The latter were “ a combination of owned and leased properties and the estimated cash costs of exit are expected to be covered by sale proceeds from the owned stores”.