High street woes

TJ HUGHES, founded in Liverpool 89 years ago, called in the administrators in June after a difficult period of trading, as nervous consumers put off purchases of big-ticket items such as fridges and TVs.

Earlier this week, 442 jobs were saved after the administrators reached an agreement to sell four stores to Lewis's Home Retail, including the flagship store in Liverpool and its site in Glasgow.

TJ Hughes was previously owned by private equity group Silverfleet, which bought the company in 2003.

Other retailers, including Habitat and fashion chain Jane Norman, have recently gone into administration.