Fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize is set to close three stores in Kent amid reports of 545 job losses nationwide.

It is understood the chain will close branches in Canterbury, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells after the business entered administration earlier this week.

Despite an immediate buy-out by founder Peter Simon, it appears a total of 35 stores across the country will now be shut for good.

There is no detail at this point on how many of the potential redundancies will affect employees in the county.

In March the high street retailer said it was "trading well until the start of March" and was outperforming last year's figures.

However, like many other businesses, it has been badly affected by lockdown and plans to turn around the ailing firm were left in disarray.

The chain, which specialises in fashion and jewellery, employs around 3,500 people.

It was restructured less than a year ago, in a move which saw Mr Simon inject £12million into the business.

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