FASHION chain Republic has collapsed into administration, putting jobs at four stores in the region at risk.
Administrator Ernst & Young said the shops at Liverpool ONE, Birkenhead, Chester and Warrington would continue to trade while it looks for a buyer for the business.
Republic has a total of 121 shops and 2,500 employees.
Ernst said it had made 150 staff redundant at Republic’s headquarters in Leeds.
Its woes follow a bleak start to the year for the retail sector, with a series of high-profile names such as HMV hitting the wall, as well as Liverpool’s iconic Rapid Hardware store.
