BHS is officially in administration, threatening jobs at their four stores in south-east London and north Kent.

There are BHS stores in Bromley High Street, Lewisham Shopping Centre, Broadway Shopping Centre in Bexleyheath and in New Road, Gravesend.

Overall almost 11,000 jobs are under threat across the country after plans to save the 88-year-old high street shop collapsed.

In a statement administrators Duff & Phelps said: "The group (BHS) has been undergoing restructuring and, as has been widely reported, the shareholders have been in negotiations to find a buyer for the business. These negotiations have been unsuccessful.

"In addition property sales have not materialised as expected in both number and value. Consequently, as a result of a lower-than-expected cash balance, the group is very unlikely to meet all contractual payments.

"The directors therefore have no alternative but to put the group into administration to protect it for all creditors. The group will continue to trade as usual whilst the administrators seek to sell it as a going concern."

Speaking to the Press Association, BHS owner Dominic Chappell said: "No one is to blame. It was a combination of bad trading and not being able to raise enough money from the property portfolio.

"In the end, we just couldn't reach an agreement with Arcadia over pensions."

He added that he will continue to work with the administrators Duff & Phelps to "find a solution post the administration".

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The retailer has debts of more than £1.3 billion, with a pension deficit of £571 million.

It was bought last year by Retail Acquisitions for £1 from Sir Philip Green, the owner of the Arcadia retail empire.

Sir Phillip bought BHS for £200 million in 2000.

He has reportedly offered £80 million towards to cost of BHS pensions.

Sports Direct reportedly want some of BHS’s 164 stores but will only do it if it does not have to take on any pension liabilities.

It is the biggest retail failure since Woolworths collapsed in 2008.

The retailer will continue trading as normal for now and gift vouchers are being accepted for up to 50 per cent of an items value.