Administrators refused today to confirm reports that they are set to announce the closure of all British Woolworths stores by January 4.

A closing down sale at ailing retailer Woolworths starts today, raising fears for around 25,000 jobs at the business.

Woolworths will launch a closing-down sale tomorrow after administrators said they had so far failed to find a buyer for the ailing retailer.

A former boss of struggling British retail chain Woolworths is bidding to take over more than half the group’s high street stores.