469 jobs go at Ethel Austin

Administrators of discount retailer Ethel Austin and sister homeware chain Au Naturale cut 469 jobs today and launched a closing-down sale at 129 stores.

MCR is cutting 404 jobs at the group's distribution depot and a further 65 roles at its head office. Both sites are at Knowsley, Merseyside.

Ethel Austin has shops in Bilston, Darlaston, Wednesbury, Walsall, West Bromwich, Dudley, Rowley Regis, Cradley Heath, Perry Barr, Smethwick and Birmingham. There are Au Naturale stores in Merry Hill and in Walsall.

The administrators said 129 loss-making outlets from the group's network of almost 300 stores would begin a closing-down sale tomorrow, although MCR has not ruled out a rescue if a willing buyer can be found.