Jobs could be under threat following reports that furnishings giant MFI is planning to close up to 20 of its stores.

The retailer, which has six warehouse operations in Sussex, is reported to be preparing a drastic overhaul of its business, including the sale of Sofa Workshop.

MFI is also said to be considering pulling out of the bathroom market after sales slumped 40 per cent in recent months. All Sussex stores, in Brighton, Worthing, Hastings, Crawley, Chichester and Eastbourne, sell bathrooms.

Sofa Workshop stores are currently open in Brighton and Chichester.

It is unclear which branches could close and how many jobs could go, if any.

A spokeswoman for MFI said: "It is all speculation and no final decisions have been made. We will be updating the market fully in our preliminary results on February 28."

Monday, February 20, 2006