FORTY-TWO Allders staff are "very upset" after being told their jobs are hanging by a thread following the retail chain going into administration.

Yesterday, it emerged Allders at Home store in Clifton Moor was likely to shut, as administrator Kroll - which is talking to potential buyers for 35 of its chain of 45 shops - revealed it had not received any offers for the branch.

The closure of the shop would result in 42 job losses.

A Kroll spokesman said yesterday it was not too late for bidders to take over the store.

But a closing down sale has started there, with advertisements of huge reductions off much of the shop's stock.

Store sales manager James Hall told the Evening Press it was "a very upsetting time for all of us".

The shop had no further comment to make, he said.

Allders regulars Doreen and Len Carpenter, of Selby, said they were saddened to hear of the shop's likely closure. "We're sad it's shutting," said Len. "We like Allders. We usually pop in here when we come to Clifton Moor."

Doreen said: "It's a shame because it's a nice shop. There's an awful lot of stock still here."

Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said news of the store's likely closure was "bad news" for workers.

He said: "You can't over-estimate the effect on the individuals concerned."

"It's never going to be good news for York, but at least we're in a better position in that many areas of our economy are buoyant."

Ian Coull, chief executive of Slough Estates - which with Tesco owns the Clifton Moor retail space through a joint venture company called Shopping Centre Ltd - said Kroll had not yet given up its lease on the land.

He said: "We are very well aware of the financial difficulties that Allders are facing.

"But if we do end up getting the space back from Allders we wouldn't be too concerned because we'd be fairly confident of letting it."

Yesterday's grim forecast for the Clifton Moor store came with better news for one of the chain's other branches in York's Piccadilly, which is said to be among the 35 to have attracted takeover interest. The Picadilly branch employs 43 staff.

Updated: 08:57 Tuesday, February 08, 2005