Fashion accessories retailer Claire's has closed its 154 UK and Ireland stores with the loss of around 1,300 jobs, administrators have said. Every store employee has been informed they are being made redundant. Sources said staff had been asked to pack up the final stock and equipment with the remaining outlets to formally close on Tuesday.

Insolvency practitioners at Kroll confirmed the closures, with a spokesperson stating: "As of 27th April, all Claire's standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading."

The spokesperson added that "an interested party is in discussions with a number of landlords with a view to taking new leases for some of the sites."

The jewellery retailer's 356 concessions, including many in Asda stores, and its head office remain unaffected by the closure.

It comes amid increasing pressures for the British high street, with Poundland shutting numerous outlets and Poundstretcher recently announcing restructuring plans involving significant rent reductions.

Claire's collapsed into administration in January, just a few months after about half the chain had been rescued by Modella Capital.

The jewellery and ear-piercing retailer's UK arm called in administrators after sales declined amid competition from online retailers such as Amazon. Its UK division's difficulties worsened after Claire's in the US and Canada filed for bankruptcy for the second time in seven years.

Founded in 1961 in Chicago, Claire's operated more than 2,750 stores across 17 countries in North America and Europe and has been particularly popular among teenagers.

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