STAFF at Bolton’s British Home Stores outlet have been told that the company has collapsed into administration.

The news means that 11,000 jobs are at risk as 164 stores across the country may have to close.

It is the biggest retail failure since Woolworths went bust in 2008.

In a statement, administrators Duff & Phelps said: "The group (BHS) has been undergoing restructuring and, as has been widely reported, the shareholders have been in negotiations to find a buyer for the business. These negotiations have been unsuccessful.

"In addition property sales have not materialised as expected in both number and value. Consequently, as a result of a lower-than-expected cash balance, the group is very unlikely to meet all contractual payments.

"The directors therefore have no alternative but to put the group into administration to protect it for all creditors. The group will continue to trade as usual whilst the administrators seek to sell it as a going concern."

The company's owner, Dominic Chappell, said he will continue to work with the administrators to "find a solution post the administration".

He also said "no-one is to blame" for the collapse.

Speaking to the Press Association, Mr Chappell said: "No-one is to blame. It was a combination of bad trading and not being able to raise enough money from the property portfolio.

"In the end, we just couldn't reach an agreement with Arcadia over pensions."

BHS was bought last year by a consortium called Retail Acquisitions, headed by Mr Chappell, for £1 from retail entrepreneur Sir Philip Green, the owner of the Arcadia retail empire.

BHS has debts of more than £1.3 billion, including a pension fund deficit of £571 million, which proved a major stumbling block in last-ditch rescue talks over the weekend.

Rival retailer Sports Direct is understood to want to some of BHS's 164 stores, but will only do so if it does not have to take on any pension liabilities.