DEBENHAMS, which has one of the biggest stores at intu Lakeside, is set to go into administration after it was forced to close its doors because of coronavirus.

Group boss Stefaan Vansteenkiste says the circumstances of the decision were "unprecedented" and described the process as a "light touch" administration to protect the company from legal action from creditors while its stores are closed.

Mr Vansteenkiste said it will allow Debenhams "to resume trading from our stores when government restrictions are lifted".

However, he did not say how many of its 142 shops would reopen.

"We are striving to protect jobs and reopen as many Debenhams stores for trading as we can, as soon as this is possible," he said.

It will be the second time in a year that Debenhams has filed for administration. It has already closed 22 stores this year and plans to shut a further 28 in 2021.

The retailer said it is still trading online "normally" while its shops are closed.

The majority of staff have been furloughed and are being paid under the government's coronavirus job retention scheme which pays 80% of a worker's salary up to £2,500 a month.

The majority of shops at intu Lakeside are now closed, but the centre is open for some services. Click here for information