The administrator to fashion and homewares chain Life & Style has had to close a further 12 stores, making another 181 people redundant.
Financial advisory firm RSM Tenon was appointed as administrator on June 10, and is trying to sell the business as a going concern.

The chain had already shut 22 of its 150 stores in June, with the loss of 274 jobs. This latest development takes the total number of jobs lost to 455.

Joint administrator Simon Bonney said: "Regretfully, to ensure the long-term future of the overall business, we have had no alternative but to close further stores."

Life & Style was set up by Elaine McPherson in March 2010 after her fashion business Ethel Austin and sister homewares chain Au Naturale went into administration in February that year.