BHS is to disappear from the high street – with the loss of up to 11,000 jobs – after administrators failed to find a buyer for the retailer.

The business will wind down and all 163 BHS shops will close and be sold off to other retailers.

The casualties include the BHS store employing about 60 people at The Shambles in Huddersfield. Others facing closure include stores at Wakefield, Leeds city centre, the White Rose shopping centre and Meadowhall.

Administrator Duff & Phelps said that 8,000 permanent jobs are likely to be lost and another 3,000 not directly employed by BHS are also at risk.

Video Loading

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw responded by urging the administrators to look after the best interests of staff and said the loss of BHS posed serious questions for the Government on the future of the high street.

The closure announcement comes after last-ditch rescue bids from former Mothercare boss Greg Tufnell and Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct failed.

Duff & Phelps said: “Although multiple offers were received, none were able to complete a deal due to the working capital required to secure the future of the company.”

The administrator said that BHS will be in “close-down sale mode” over the coming weeks as it proceeds an “orderly wind-down” of the business.

The Huddersfield store occupies the second-largest unit at the Piazza Shopping Centre – behind Boots – and accounts for about a fifth of total trading space at the centre.

BHS fell into administration in April, leaving a £571m pensions black hole and sparking an investigation by MPs into its demise.

Huddersfield BHS store on The Shambles, Huddersfield.

Previous owners, billionaire Sir Philip Green and former bankrupt Dominic Chappell are set to be quizzed by MPs in coming weeks.

The pair have been roundly criticised – Sir Philip for paying a £400m dividend to his family from the business and over his management of the pension scheme – and Mr Chappell for sucking management fees out of BHS before its collapse.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Dave Gill, Usdaw national officer, said: “The staff in BHS have been in a state of anxiety and uncertainty for over a year after the company was sold for one pound, went into administration and has now been put in liquidation.

“This news is a devastating blow for the staff and the shock waves will be felt on high streets throughout the country.”