Ethel Austin goes into administration

Value retailer Ethel Austin has gone into administration.

The move has been blamed on failure to secure banking facilities, compounded by poor trading conditions during January.

Manchester-based insolvency specialists MCR, who handled the firm’s 2008 administration, have been appointed.

MCR has also been appointed as administrators to Ethel Austin’s sister firm, homewares chain Au Naturale.

Liverpool-based Ethel Austin has 300 stores and 2,500 employees.