Administrators for The Body Shop have announced that nearly half of its 198 stores in the UK will close and the firm will reduce the size of its head office.

As a result, hundreds of job losses are expected, with store closures beginning immediately.

The high street retailer, which employs around 2,200 people in the UK, entered administration earlier this month after a buyer could not be found for the group.

Restructuring firm, FRP Advisory, took control of the company, just three months after it was taken over by German firm, Aurelius, in November 2023.

The Body Shop was established by Dame Anita Roddick in 1976 and produces anti-animal cruelty skincare products.

However, it went into financial difficulty following poor financial results over the Christmas period and competition from rivals such as Lush.

---