High street chain wilko says it has appointed Administrators after failing to secure a rescue deal. You will remember this chain has been in the news for the last couple of weeks with concerns over whether it will be rescued. It looks like the rescue deal has fallen through and they have appointed Administrators. 12,000 people, it looks like, at risk potentially, following the news that wilko has appointed Administrators. We will bring you any more detail when we get the story but the Breaking News, wilko, the high street chain, has appointed Administrators. Here in the uk, police and the West Midlands say they are treating a fire at a Well Known18th century pub near dudley as arson. The cricket house, described as britains One Ovest Pub was largely destroyed by the blaze, it was then bulldozed with the local council said was unauthorised, unacceptable and possibly unlawful. Here is louisa pilbeam. Whats left of the 250 year old pub has now been searched by a Specialist Fire Service do
lets ta ke lets take you back to one of our big stories that has broken this morning regarding wilco, one of the uk s biggest discount retailers. you will know it from the high street. we have learned this morning it has gone into administration putting at risk some 12,000 jobs. let s go to our business correspondent peter ruddock to bring us up to date on the latest. in ruddock to bring us up-to-date on the latest. ., , ., , the latest. in the last few moments we have learned the latest. in the last few moments we have learned that the latest. in the last few moments we have learned that wilco, - we have learned that wilco, wilkinson s founded in 1930 in leicester, one store but now covers around 400 stores across the country, has gone into administration. we knew they were in trouble, a few days ago they said they had given themselves some time to find a buyer and sought a rescue deal but today the ceo of the company has written to 12,000 employees are essentially saying we have
familiar with the store, it sells household and garden products, starting with a single store in 1930 and now has around 400 stores across the uk. the business had been struggling. it warned last week it was potentially on the brink of collapse in the face of mounting cash pressures. this morning we have had a statement from the ceo of wilco, markjackson. to redo that statement, over the past six months, we have been open with all stakeholders, including team members, that we have been considering options to accelerate a turnaround plan given we need to make significant changes. we left no stone unturned but when it came to preserving this incredible business we must concede that with regret we have no choice but to take the difficult decision to enter into administration. once again, a statement from the ceo of wilko. he says, i would like to take this