Published: Monday, 8th February, 2010 2:18pm

Job fears as Ethel Austin enters administration

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LESS than three months after opening a major new shop in Reading, fashion retailer Ethel has gone into administration.

The store, at the Broad Street Mall, will continue to trade while a buyer is sought.

The Reading store took on 27 full and part time staff when it opened in November but the company said it was too early to comment on the future of any of the 300 stores.

Spokesman Richard Merrin said: " All the stores are open and still trading. It is business as usual whilst the administrators assess the situation. The administrators are actively looking for a new buyer."

The retailer, along with its household goods specialist arm Au Naturale entered administration after a combination of its failure to get new funding and poor trading in January.