WORKERS at intu Merry Hill’s BHS store were this afternoon trying to come to terms with the sad demise of the long-running department store.

The High Street chain went into administration in April and, despite efforts to save the company, administrators Duff & Phelps were unable to agree a sale of the business.

Multiple offers were received but none were able to complete a deal due to the working capital required to secure the future of the company and Philip Duffy and Benjamin Wiles, managing directors of Duff & Phelps, announced today (Thursday June 2) the company would be wound down.

The announcement means all 163 stores across the UK, including the Merry Hill outlet, will be in close down sale mode over the coming weeks and, although continuing efforts will be made by the administrators to sell stores, the jobs of 8,000 members of staff nationwide are likely to go.

A further 3,000 jobs of non-BHS employees who work in the store’s concessions may also be at risk.

Philip Duffy, managing director of Duff & Phelps and joint administrator, said "The British high street is changing and in these turbulent times for retailers, BHS has fallen as another victim of the seismic shifts we are seeing.

“The tireless work and goodwill of the existing management team and employees of BHS with the support of my team were not enough to change the fortunes of the company.”

The administrators were unable to confirm how many workers at BHS at intu Merry Hill are affected but they added: “Our thoughts are with the employees.

"We thank them for their professionalism and hard work.

"We would also like to thank the great British public for helping us in our efforts to save BHS resulting in several weeks of significant sales.”