SALISBURY will lose one of its largest retailers as BHS is wound down.

The department store chain will close, resulting in the loss of up to 11,000 jobs nationwide, after administrators failed to find a buyer for the company.

The announcement came at just after 2pm today, but the Salisbury branch in the Old George Mall is still open for business this afternoon.

One worker said staff were waiting for an official statement from company bosses and had not been told anything yet.

The business will be wound down and all BHS's 163 shops will close and be sold off to other retailers. Administrator Duff & Phelps said that 8,000 permanent jobs are likely to be lost and another 3,000 not directly employed by BHS are also at risk.

The news comes after last-ditch rescue bids from former Mothercare boss Greg Tufnell and Mike Ashley's Sports Direct failed.

Duff & Phelps said: "Although multiple offers were received, none were able to complete a deal due to the working capital required to secure the future of the company."

The administrator added that BHS will be in "close-down sale mode" over the coming weeks as it proceeds an "orderly wind-down" of the business.

Philip Duffy, managing director of Duff & Phelps, said: "The British high street is changing and, in these turbulent times for retailers, BHS has fallen as another victim of the seismic shifts we are seeing.

"The tireless work and goodwill of the existing management team and employees of BHS with the support of my team were not enough to change the fortunes of the company."