THE future of two well-known Chester stores hangs in the balance after news that Woolworths and MFI have both gone into administration.

Staff at Woolworths in Foregate Street and the furniture store MFI in Sealand Road face worrying times in the run-up to Christmas.

Woolworths’ administrators have begun efforts to rescue the chain. All 815 stores will stay open for now, but 30,000 jobs are at risk.

Administrators Deloitte said there had been “expressions of interest” for the stores and for the Entertainment UK wholesale business.