Claire’s has once again collapsed into administration, in another major blow to the UK high street, putting 1,000 jobs and more than 150 stores at risk. The high street chain was understood to be filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators shortly after Christmas, and today Kroll has been appointed to handle the insolvency of its UK and Irish operations.

Despite both chains being bought in emergency deals last year, money eventually ran out and insiders said the collapse came amid a multitude of problems.

Sources close to the situation claimed that a combination of Government policy and demands from landlords meant Claire’s is now unviable, Sky News reports.

“This has been a very tough decision. We have worked intensively in an effort to save both businesses, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue them, but neither has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.

“In these circumstances, administration is the only option. In both cases, the legacy effects of trading prior to our ownership left them highly vulnerable.”