Shutters have already closed for the final time on 21 Paul Simon stores and now administrators have announced that the remaining 22 stores will close as a buyer could not be found.
Earlier in the month administrator Deloitte revealed that seven of the home furnishing stores had been bought by Lewis's Home Retail, saving 73 jobs.

But as news comes that the remaining stores will close it means that a total of 498 staff will have lost their jobs since the company went into administration in April.

Lead administrator Lee Manning, said: "We very much regret that a buyer for the remaining stores as a going concern could not be found.

"We will close stores over the coming weeks, selling the remaining unsold stock in these stores in clearance sales. The business cannot trade indefinitely without the prospect of a buyer."

It is thought that a combination of loss-making stores with excessive rents, a complicated delivery model for relatively modest transaction sizes and financing problems contributed to the downfall of Paul Simon.

The remaining 22 stores will close over the next three weeks, with all the stores closed by mid-June.

Paul Simon, which specialises in selling furniture, curtains and carpets, went into administration after being hit hard by an uncertain economic environment.