Jobs at one of Cowdenbeath’s largest retailers could be at risk as The Original Factory Shop announces it is to enter administration.

The Woodend Place store, which has been a fixture in the retail offering in the town for more than 15 years, could be axed as part of the huge bankruptcy of Modella Capital, which also owns 150 Claire’s Accessories stores.

Around 2,500 jobs are at risk across the UK between both brands, with nearly 300 stores facing closure.

“This has been a very tough decision,” said Morella in a statement. “We have worked intensively in an effort to save both businesses, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue them, but neither has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.”

The investment company said the retail environment nationally “remains extremely challenging”, with footfall dropping as more shoppers move online.

They continued, “A combination of very weak consumer confidence, highly adverse government fiscal policies and continued cost inflation is causing many established and much-loved businesses to suffer badly. It’s a simple fact that if reatailers cant make money, they risk having to close – and jobs across the country are lost.”