Retailer goes to the wall
Tiles R Us has collapsed into administration, resulting in the closure of a third of its stores and the loss of 131 jobs.

Rob Lewis, PricewaterhouseCoopers joint administrator and director, said: 'Tiles R Us is one of the largest tile retailers in the UK and the administrators intend to seek a solution that allows as much of the business to survive as possible. Unfortunately, it has been necessary to close 30 stores and, as a consequence, 131 people have been made redundant.'

The administrators have been called in to restructure the business and improve its prospects. Lewis said: 'In the meantime, we would ask for the support of all of the company's employees and suppliers during the period of administration, in order to provide the administrators with the best chance of securing the survival of the company as a going concern.'

A helpline has been set up for customers with outstanding orders.

Tiles R Us is the latest in a growing number of home sector specialists that have collapsed under the pressure of a slow housing market and cautious consumer spending.

The group, which is based at Bridgend in South Wales, operates 90 stores across the UK, with an annual turnover of about£40 million.

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