Arcadia is owned by British tycoon Sir Philip Green and is responsible for the likes of top shop Burton and Dorothy Perkins.

Deloitte has been appointed the group's administrator on will now seek buyers for the brands.

It says no redundancy use will be immediately announced on its some 500 stores in the UK and abroad will continue to trade for the time being.

Philip Green, who was pictured over the weekend in Monaco, where is $130 million Superior is Docked, did not respond to requests for comment, but a CEO placed the retail groups to mice on the global half crisis.

While lockdowns may have pushed Arcadia over the edge, the group's brands have been struggling in recent years due to under investment in a failure to a doctor and online retail environment.

A restructuring deal was approved by creditors last year, cutting rents in closing stores, but proved only a temporary rest bite.

Arcadia's workforce also faces uncertainty over a deficit in the company's pension fund.

The UK government described the news of Al Qaeda's collapse incredibly sad and said it will support those affected.

Arcadia's entry into administration is the country's biggest corporate failure off the health crisis represents a huge blow for the UK High Street.