Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group has reportedly set aside several stores in its UK portfolio for permanent closure, after recently being granted a 10-day extension of creditor protection.

The group, which owns Austin Reed, Jaeger and Jacques Vert, has permanently closed its stores in Penrith in Cumbria and Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands, Drapers reported.

Stores in Andover in Hampshire, Oswestry in Shropshire and Newbury in Berkshire have left “closing down sale” signs in their shop windows.

Meanwhile, Peacocks stores in Acomb in North Yorkshire, East Dereham in Norfolk, Ryde and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, Washington in Tyne and Wear, and the Bonmarché stores in Newcastle upon Tyne also have “closing down sale” signs displayed.

Store staff said they have not been informed of the permanent closures.

The group has a total of 1100 stores across its portfolio.

In October, it was reported that EWM was planning to close 50 stores, resulting in around 600 redundancies, after filing notice of its intention to appoint administrators.

This was due to expire last Thursday, but the group managed to secure a 10-day extension of creditor protection.

Over 20,000 jobs are at risk if the group – which also owns the Peacocks – files for administration.

Over the weekend, Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group expressed an interest in acquiring Jaeger, Austin Reed and Jacques Vert in a bid to boost the group’s portfolio.

Last week, it was reported that TM Lewin’s parent company Torque Brands, Simba Sleep co-founder James Cox and Jaeger’s former owner Harold Tillman were among the bidders for Day’s Jaeger brand.

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