A high street clothing chain with stores across Cambridgeshire has gone into administration.

M&Co closed its Ely store without warning earlier this month and also has outlets in St Ives, St Neots and March. 

On Friday, it confirmed the administrators had been appointed.  

Across the country, it means almost 2,000 jobs in 170 stores could now be at risk in the run up to Christmas. 

The company has been approached for comment but has not responded with any details about the future of its Cambridgeshire shops.  

Ely Standard:

A post allegedly being shared from staff on social media says: “We are hoping for a positive outcome and that our lovely shops will be saved.” 

The Ely store was located prominently in the Market Place. 

Stores currently still open are at The Pavement, in St Ives; Market Square, St Neots; and Broad Street, March.     

Meanwhile, a statement on the M&Co website explains the financial advisory firm Tenco has been appointed to handle the administration process.  

Gavin Park, one of the joint administrators, told the BBC that M&Co had experienced a sharp rise in costs like many other retailers which had coincided with a "decline in consumer confidence". 

He said: "Despite a very loyal customer base, particularly in local markets, and a well-recognised brand, the current economic outlook has placed increasing pressure on the company's cash position." 

M&Co is a Scottish company and used to be known as Mackays.  

There are currently 1,910 staff.  

The chain collapsed in 2020 but assets were immediately bought back by the McGeoch family which established the business in 1961.  

As a result, 47 stores closed and jobs were cut across the company.