16 regional stores under threat as two major retailers enter administration

Sixteen stores across the East Midlands are at risk of closure after two major retailers collapsed into administration.

Rescue talks at both Toys R Us and Maplin have failed, although both businesses will continue to trade for the immediate future.

Both companies have eight sites in the region, in Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Chesterfield, Mansfield and Lincoln, while Maplin also has a store in Loughborough.

Toys R Us employs 3,000 people across 105 stores and Maplin has more than 200 stores and 2,500 staff.

Toys R Us joint administrator Simon Thomas said: “Whilst this process is likely to affect many Toys R Us staff, whether some or all of the stores will close remains to be decided.”

Its larger, warehouse-style stores have struggled in recent years although its smaller stores have performed more strongly.