There are fears jobs in Lincolnshire could be at risk if one of the UK's oldest department stores falls into administration.

Beales, which has been trading since 1881, has said 22 stores across the country and 1,000 jobs could go if no-one is found to take the company on.

The BBC reports that the firm, which has stores in Skegness, Spalding and Wisbech, made a lost of £3.1 million in the year to March 2019, nearly double than in the year before.

The company took over the three shops from Westgate department stores in April 2011.

Lincolnshire Headlines

The news comes despite the fact chief executive Tony Brown led a buyout by management in 2018.

However, it is believed that poor Christmas sales has put its future at risk, and even if the company is saved, some stores could close, taking jobs with them.

Beales, Skegness

The full list of stores that could be affected if the company goes into administration is as follows:

  • Beccles
  • Bedford
  • Bournemouth
  • Chipping Norton
  • Diss
  • Fareham
  • Hexham
  • Keighley
  • Kendal
  • Lowestoft
  • Mansfield
  • Perth
  • Peterborough
  • Poole
  • Skegness
  • Southport
  • Spalding
  • St Neots
  • Tonbridge
  • Wisbech
  • Worthing
  • Yeovil

The British Retail Consortium, which represents retailers in the UK, reports that sales across the sector sales fell by 0.9 per cent in November and December.

The bruising news comes just days after one the country's other big department stores, Debenhams, began to close 19 of its stores, while Mothercare ceased trading all together on Sunday, January 12.

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