A CLOTHING retail chain based in Huddersfield faces an uncertain future today.

Peacock Group, owner of clothing retailers Peacocks is in talks with a potential buyer for its Bon Marché chain.

At the same time, the group said it intended to appoint administrators to protect the group and Bon Marché until the sale process was completed.

The move comes after the breakdown of talks with lenders and means about 9,000 jobs are in jeopardy.

Bon Marché has its distribution base at Grange Moor and a store at New Street in Huddersfield. Cardiff-based Peacocks has a store in the town at the Piazza Centre.

The group said that it was taking the difficult step of appointing administrators to Peacocks in order to protect the business.

It said directors and their advisers had been in talks about restructuring the business with the group’s lenders, but said the talks had ended with no agreement reached.

Discussion with other potential investors were continuing and to protect the business while those talks progressed, the directors of the Peacock Group have filed a notice of Intention to Appoint an Administrator.