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Ethel Austin in administration

Discount retailer Ethel Austin has gone into administration for the second time in two years.

The 76-year-old discount retailer and its sister homewares chain Au Naturale, has appointed Manchester-based MCR as administrator after the business failed to turn around following its rescue from collapse in May 2008.

The future of some 300 stores and over 2200 jobs now hang in the balance as MCR seeks to find a buyer.

The administrator said it could not rule out store closures and redundancies.

Liverpool based Ethel Austin was bought out of administration in 2008 by Elaine McPherson, the previous chief executive and joint owner of MK One.

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