The Hartcliffe branch of Allied Carpets has shut with the loss of eight jobs.

The closure is one of eight stores in the West which shut its doors on Thursday, which between them made 50 people redundant.

The administrator BDO Stoy Hayward said it had been unable to sell on the bulk of the flooring firm's branches amid fears over tough trading.

A total of 142 stores and 850 jobs have been axed nationwide, including stores in Bath, Bridgwater, Gloucester, Taunton, Trowbridge, Salisbury, Dorchester and at Hartcliffe in Bristol.

But the fate of a further 20 branches and 120 jobs hangs in the balance as BDO makes last-ditch efforts to offload them to new owners.

BDO has already sold 55 stores to a new firm set up by former Allied chief executive Clive Hutchings, having recently struck a deal to offload another four to the firm, called Allied Carpets Retail Limited.

Allied's shops in Yeovil, Weston-Super-Mare, Swindon, Chippenham, Poole and at Cribbs Causeway were among those bought, saving about 30 jobs.

Allied Carpets went into administration last month, with 21,000 orders still outstanding.

BDO said it was making good progress finishing the orders, with 16,000 fulfilled so far, and aims to ensure all are completed eventually.

It remains hopeful of selling on the remaining stores that are still trading and said it was also in negotiations over deals for the premises of those stores included in the recent wave of closures.

Dermot Power, BDO business restructuring partner, said: "The common concern has been around the lack of visibility of future turnover.

"In addition, many of those who operate in the same industry haven't been comfortable taking the step to extend their current portfolio in such a tough trading climate."