Happit owner in administration

POOR trading and competition from other discount retailers has pushed the company behind the Happit clothing chain into administration.

Leeds-based 2nd Thoughts bought Happit in 2008 from Dunfermline-based Castleblair. Administrators at Begbies Traynor said 29 stores had already been shut, with 140 shop and head office posts being made redundant.

Fourteen of the group's Scottish stores have already been closed with the loss of 60 jobs.

But Bob Maxwell and Edward Klempka – who were appointed as joint administrators earlier this week – said the remaining 53 stores would stay open for the time being.

Maxwell said: "We are actively seeking a sale of the business as a going concern in order to safeguard the remaining 270 jobs."