PEACOCKS on East Street in Bridport appears to be on its last legs as 'closing down sale' signs were posted in the shop's window.

This comes after Edinburgh Woollen Mill, the fashion chain which owns both Peacocks and Jaegar, announced it was on the brink of administration.

Bosses across the country wrote to staff on Friday morning, warning them that the national and local lockdowns had hit sales very heavily.

The collapse of the company could lead to the loss of up to 24,000 jobs across the country.

Steve Simpson, chief executive of Edinburgh Woollen Mill, said: “Like every retailer, we have found the past seven months extremely difficult.

“As directors we have a duty to the business, our staff, our customers and our creditors to find the very best solution in this brutal environment.

“So we have applied to court for a short breathing space to assess our options before moving to appoint administrators.

“Through this process I hope and believe we will be able to secure the best future for our businesses, but there will inevitably be significant cuts and closures as we work our way through this."

The manager at the Bridport store was unable to comment on the closure.

Peacocks and Edinburgh Woollen Mill were contacted for comment.