Ethel Austin goes into administration (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Ethel Austin goes into administration

6:40pm Monday 8th February 2010 in

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Jobs at several West Yorkshire clothing shops are at risk after the parent company was put into administration for the second time in two years.

Ethel Austin, which has nearly 300 stores including branches in Shipley, Keighley, Batley and Dewsbury, and its sister homeware chain Au Naturale, appointed MCR as administrator after the business failed to turn around following its rescue from collapse in 2008.

Hundreds of jobs now hang in the balance as MCR seeks to find a buyer. The administrator said it could not rule out store closures and redundancies as it goes through the books.

The group has come under pressure from rival budget chains such as Primark and Matalan, while the financial crisis affected its finances.

Geoff Bouchier, MCR partner, said Ethel Austin would trade as normal while a buyer was sought, but added that “in the current economic climate there are no guarantees that purchasers will be found”.