Claire's closes 154 stores with loss of 1,300 jobs

All Claire's standalone stores in the UK and Ireland have stopped trading after the accessories chain's financial woes saw it fall into administration twice in a year.

Administrators Kroll said 154 stores have shut and more than 1,300 staff have been "notified of redundancy", though its concessions and its European stores will remain open.

Known for its colourful shop fronts and racks of jewellery, bracelets and its ear piercing services, the brand's bright purple branding is a familiar sight for millions of teens during a Saturday shop.

But it suffered from competition with cheaper, online brands such as Shein and Temu.

Changing consumer tastes also spelled the death knell for the retailer, which has struggled like many High Street firms.

Kroll said: "As of 27 April, all Claire's standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy."

Its previous owners, Modella Capital, said in January that part of the reason it had to put Claire's in to administration was "alarming" low Christmas trading which left it in a "vulnerable" position.

It also blamed the climate on the High Street, which it said "remains extremely challenging", adding that government policy had caused a tough trading environment by raising staffing costs such as National Insurance Contributions.