STRUGGLING fashion and home retailer Laura Ashley is to appoint administrators after being hit by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

The business, which has a shop on Newport High Street, is the latest retailer to hit trouble.

The firm said the virus outbreak 'has had an immediate and significant impact on trading'.

It had been in talks with its lenders about accessing sufficient money to allow it to continue trading — but has now said it would not get those funds in time.

The company said: "For the seven weeks up to March 13, trading for the Laura Ashley business improved by 24 per cent year-on-year and the directors were encouraged by this strong performance.

"However, the Covid-19 outbreak has had an immediate and significant impact on trading, and ongoing developments indicate that this will be a sustained national situation."