A Sussex store is one of 75 Body Shop branches to close across the UK.

The high-street skincare and cosmetics chain, which was founded in Brighton, fell into administration earlier this month.

Administrators from FRP Advisory said the latest closures will take place over the next four to six weeks as part of a heavy restructuring aimed at preserving the brand.

While Brighton’s branch of The Body Shop will remain open, the chain’s store in Hastings is among those that will close their doors for good.

The retailer shut seven shops last week in the first phase of restructuring after confirming plans to close nearly half of its UK stores.

The latest announcement will leave the firm with 116 stores.

The Body Shop’s other stores in Sussex, namely Hove, Worthing, Crawley, Horsham, Eastbourne, Crawley and Chichester, are unaffected by the announced closures.

Tony Wright, joint administrator, said: “In taking swift action to right-size The Body Shop UK store portfolio, we have stabilised the business and are providing the best opportunity for this iconic brand to have a long-term sustainable future.

“The UK business continues to trade in administration and we remain fully focused on exploring all options to take the business forward.”

A total of 489 jobs will be lost as a result of the closures.

The Body Shop was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon as one of the first companies to promote ethical consumerism, focusing on ethically produced cosmetics and skincare products.

The store first opened in Kensington Gardens in Brighton and has a headquarters in Littlehampton.

The downsizing comes only weeks after private equity firm Aurelius took control of the business in a £207 million deal in November, buying The Body Shop from Brazilian cosmetics firm Natura and Co.

Aurelius agreed a deal late last month to sell the company’s operations in most of mainland Europe and in parts of Asia to an international family office in a “decisive step towards delivering a strong turnaround strategy”.