Troubled record chain to close

At its peak the company had 40 stores nationwide

Stores in the financially beleaguered Andy's Records chain are to start closing next week.

Administrators who were called in to run the company said on Wednesday that they had been unable to find a buyer for the company.

All 23 branches will have to close and 150 jobs will go.

Andy Gray began selling records from a stall in Felixstowe while still at school.

In 1975 he opened his first shop and by the 1990s he had more than 40 and was winning national awards.

The company called in the administrators in May with reported debts of £6m.

Competition from larger chains and the sale of music on the internet were cited by the administrators for the problems facing Andy's Records.

All of the stores are expected to close by the end of September.