Jobs fear as furniture chain collapses

The retailer, which has a shop in Leeds, said it had ceased trading and closed its 23 stores and one concession, while asking staff to stay at home, as it prepares to appoint administrators.

The Milton Keynes-headquartered company said no deliveries will be made and customers with outstanding orders should contact their card issuer.

Dwell is the latest casualty in the battered retail sector, which has this year seen firms including entertainment group HMV, bed retailer Dreams and youth fashion chain Republic plunge into administration.

Dwell started trading from a single store in Balham, south London, in 2003 and expanded in the south of England. In recent years it has opened stores in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

But the upmarket retailer, majority owned by private equity firm Key Capital Partners, has struggled amid sluggish consumer confidence and a weak housing market.