Up to 2,000 jobs are at risk after British home improvement retailer Homebase called in administrators who immediately sold up to 70 stores, the brand and its intellectual property to The Range owner CDS in a so-called prepack deal.

Homebase has fallen into administration placing 2,000 jobs at risk. The British home improvement company’s owner, Hilco, was actively seeking to sell the beleaguered retailer, which has so far proven unsuccessful.

HOMEBASE could be heading for a partial collapse, putting thousands of jobs at risk, amid reports that the chain has appointed insolvency experts with a potential buyer of parts of its 130-store estate also circling.

Homebase has collapsed into administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk. Its owner Hilco had been looking to sell the struggling retailer, but has not managed to find an outright buyer. The owner of homeware chain The Range is buying up to 70 stores and the brand,

Over half of Homebase's workforce faces uncertainty after the DIY retailer's owners called in administrators following a failed sale attempt.