What a sad week for more than 50% of the work force that was employed at the troubled lingerie retailer La Senza as the administrators moved into to start closing down stores.

Earlier this week staff across the country were told the news that they had been dreading when administrators arrived at selected stores to inform staff that the chain had gone into administration and that with the immediate effect they were now unemployed.

All together more than 1,300 staff have been made redundant as part of the administration which resulted in the closure of more than 100 stores, over half of the chains profile. The administration company that is handling the administration KPMG has confirmed that they have closed 84 stores and a further 18 concessions as part of the administration process. However there was a glimmer of hope when the administrators announced that in a pre-packed administration deal the y were able to secure a buyer for 60 of the stores securing over 1,100 jobs.

Richard Fleming, joint administrator and UK Head of Restructuring at KPMG, said "We are delighted that we have been able to rescue part of La Senza UK and such a large number of jobs, given the negative economic pressures faced by retailers in the UK. Alshaya is a leading international retail operator with long standing links with the UK as the international franchise partner of a string of high street brands. This deal recognises the value of La Senza as a strong and popular high street brand with a loyal customer base."

Arabian retail group Alshaya, which owns stakes in a number of British retailers including Next, and Debenhams has brought the remaining part of the business for an undisclosed sum as part of the pre-packed deal, the new owners Alshaya have said that they will be investing around £100 million in the business over the next two years through new products and store designs. It will run the stores as franchises after buying the exclusive rights to the brand in the UK from its US owners Limited Brands.

Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group in Kuwait, said: "We are delighted to have reached agreement to buy these La Senza stores - saving jobs, protecting a great brand for consumers and strengthening our UK presence and links. This is a strategic investment for us and a positive addition to our extensive international retail portfolio. This is the first step in a long-term commitment to developing the La Senza UK business, which we believe has great potential."

Details concerning which stores have been saved are yet to be published however it has been confirmed that only one out of the three Bristol stores have been closed down. Meaning staff in a Le Senza store over in Ireland have been showing real girl power after spending the last five days camping inside the store after news broke that the shop was to be closed and that no wages would be paid. All eight La Senza stores across Ireland were closed as part of the process leading to more than 100 staff being made redundant. It is understood that staff have not been paid wages including overtime over the festive period.

A message on the once popular La Senza website states that The internet business has ceased operating immediately upon the administrators' appointment and that the administrators are using their reasonable endeavors to send out all internet orders which had already been processed and packaged, however all orders not processed at appointment cannot be fulfilled and therefore will be cancelled and no funds taken from customers.

If you have any outstanding returns that have not been refunded or replaced at the date of administration, in accordance with the insolvency legislation, you will need to make an unsecured creditor claim in the administration.