Buyer hopes

JR Taylor, founded in 1901, has just weeks to find a buyer or be forced to close, with 60 staff facing redundancy.

Matthew Bye, a spokesman for the owners of JR Taylor, said: “The store remains open and the business continues to trade while the administrators explore all the options available.

“There’s still no formal deadline on the administration process and the administrators continue to seek a buyer for the business.”

Workers at the store, based in Garden Street, St Annes, were told of the news at a meeting in early December after what was described as a “sustained period of difficult trading conditions”.

The decision to enter administration was made by owners Howjow Investments Limited.

Duff and Phelps was appointed as administrator.