469 jobs go as Ethel Austin branches shut

Ethel Austin stores across the West Midlands were holding closing down sales today after the company went into administration with 469 job losses.

Six branches are to go in the Black Country.

Administrators of the discount clothing store and and sister homeware chain Au Naturale launched a closing-down sale at 129 stores.

Ethel Austin shops in Crossways Shopping centre Heath Town; Digbeth Old Square, Walsall; King Street, Darlaston; Bearwood Road, Bearwood and High Street, Cradley Heath will close, along with a store in Sutton Coldfield.

The Au Naturale in Broadway Retail Park, Bescot Crescent, Walsall will also shut. Ethel Austin is the latest in a line of high street stores to close in Bearwood Road in the last year.

Local councillor Bob Piper, said: "Adams has been replaced, but Woolworths is still empty, which is a concern.

"Over the last couple of months things seem to have been picking up, so hopefully the loss of another store won't be too big a problem, although obviously the loss of any retail unit and it is a concern for local employment."

Geoff Bouchier, partner at MCR said: "A rescue of these stores by a willing purchaser has not been ruled out."

Stores remain open in Stafford, Dudley, Wednesbury, Aldridge, West Bromwich, Rugeley, Stourbridge, Bilston and Stone.