A well-known High Street store with premises in Hitchin town centre is closing.

M&Co on Hitchin High Street is to close, with the future of the business up and down the country uncertain after its parent company announced it was going into administration.

The company has 170 stores across the UK and employs around 1900 staff, including a number in Hitchin, with the privately-owned UK chain has blamed increasing costs and decreasing customer confidence for its downfall.

In a statement M&Co said: "The Joint Administrators are now exploring a potential sale of the business in an accelerated time frame, during which time the company will continue to trade from its stores and website."

The fashion retailer has already closed stores in Dorset and Worcestershire over the past week, with the future of others including Heswall in the Wirral uncertain.

The Renfrewshire-based company, which used to be known as Mackays, is one of Scotland's best known clothing chains.  It last collapsed in 2020 but assets were immediately bought back by the family that built it up.

Gavin Park, Adele MacLeod and Rob Harding of Teneo Financial Advisory Limited have been appointed as Joint Administrators for the Scottish-headquartered company.

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M&Co's Hitchin branch is to close. PICTURE: The site on Hitchin High Street is to close. CREDIT: @HitchinNubNews