Staff at fashion stores could lose their jobs

JOBS at Worksop clothing stores Bonmarche and Peacocks still hang in the balance this week after their parent company hit financial trouble.

Workers at the Priory Centre branch of Peacocks and the Bridge Place branch of Bonmarche are still non the wiser as to whether the stores will close.

Fashion chain Peacocks called in the administrators last week, having failed to reach an agreement with its banks over its £240m debts.

A spokesman said the ultimate aim would be to find an investor for Peacocks.

Meanwhile Bonmarche, part of the Peacocks Group, was bought by private equity group Sun European Partners.

However, the deal could still lead to 1,400 redundancies nationwide as Sun announced it will continue to run 230 Bonmarche stores but will close about 160.

The company said it was too early to release a list of all sites to be closed.

Yorkshire-based retailer Bonmarche was bought by the Peacocks ten years ago and has 394 stores across the country.

Peacocks has more than 600 stores and concessions in the UK, and around 117 other stores around the world.

After initial confusion, KPMG - administrators for Peacocks - said customers could now exchange goods with a valid receipt within 28 days.

Spokespeople from the Worksop branches were unavailable for comment.

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