ADMINISTRATORS have confirmed that Chester’s Ethel Austin store will close in the next three to four weeks.

A total of 81 shops will be axed with 696 jobs likely to be made redundant. Around half-a-dozen staff work at the Frodsham Street store.

A number of Au Naturale outlets, which is the sister company of the troubled value clothing retailer, are included in that number.

The Au Naturale store on The Coliseum shopping park had already been axed.

Geoff Bouchier, joint administrator and partner of MCR, said: “It is a difficult retail climate and until such time as any sale of the businesses can be completed, cost cutting measures need to be taken to allow the businesses to trade on in the short term.

“There are still opportunities for a purchaser of the businesses to come forward.”