AROUND 1,600 jobs are to go at shoe retailer Barratts Priceless after attempts to find a buyer for the concessions business failed, administrators said today.

It was announced last week that nearly 200 jobs were being lost with the closure of 18 stores in the UK and Ireland.

Administrator Deloitte said it would continue to trade the remaining 173 stores as it sought a buyer for all or parts of the business as a going concern.

But it said today that it had been unsuccessful in finding a buyer for the concession business.

The concessions are mainly in Dorothy Perkins and Outfit stores.

The 173 stand-alone stores are unaffected by today's announcement as attempts to seek a buyer continue.

The administrators said failure to find a buyer for the concessions will unfortunately result in redundancies of Barratts Priceless staff across units in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.