Nearly 80 high street jobs across the county are at risk after a prominent home textiles retailer went into administration.

Rosebys, which sells soft furnishings, curtains, bed linen and duvets, is the latest victim of the economic downturn hitting shops across the country.

The housing slump has also affected Rosebys, with fewer people moving house and buying the curtains they would normally need.

The loss-making company has 280 shops across the country, including 14 in Kent. It employs nearly 2,000 people nationally, and 78 across the county.

The Kent and Medway stores affected are in Dartford, Sittingbourne, Hempstead Valley (Gillingham), Gillingham Business Park (a concession in Homestyle), Gravesend, Tonbridge, Orpington, Dover, Margate, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone, Chatham, Welling and Bexleyheath.

Howard Smith, Richard Fleming and Mark Firmin of KPMG LLP Restructuring have been appointed as joint administrators to the Rosebys group.

Mr Smith said: "The business is continuing to trade as normal while we review the financial position and seek a going concern sale. No employees have been made redundant to date.

"In common with many retailers, the group has experienced difficult trading conditions, leading to continuing losses. Rosebys has recently sought to re-finance, but this did not prove possible in the current economic climate. We are looking for offers for the whole or any part of the business."