The Ashford branch of furniture retailer MFI has closed down, with several staff losing their jobs.

Managers took over 106 MFI stores last month in a buy-out but the remaining 81 shops went into administration.

Now the Ashford store has closed, after holding last-minute "make-us-an-offer" sale of display kitchens, furniture and even shop fittings.

A spokesman for administrators Kroll, which specialises in re-structuring ailing firms, confirmed that the Tunbridge Wells and Ashford stores had closed in Kent.

He said: "Their last day was Saturday, November 1."

Nine staff from Ashford have been made redundant.

Other Kent branches are understood to be safe.

MFI is telling customers awaiting deliveries that all existing orders will be fulfilled.

Kroll had earlier said it would make efforts to find buyers for the ailing 81 stores, but had started a "wind-down process" to "help achieve the best realisation of assets".