A CAFE and bakery in Salisbury has closed, as part of a country-wide administration putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk.

Patisserie Valerie collapsed yesterday (January 22) into administration, causing the business in Butcher Row to close its doors to the public with little prior warning.

KPMG were appointed as administrators who said it will continue to trade 121 out of 200 stores, but around 70 cafes and concessions would have to be closed with immediate effect.

The company almost ceased training in October following an accounting scandal, and parent company, Patisserie Holdings, has been grappling with financial problems and investigations since.

The firm has said that the extent of fraud left them unable to renew bank loans and there was not enough sufficient funding to continue trading.

The Salisbury chain is no longer listed on the Patisserie Valerie website, and a note in the store's window assures that customer deliveries will still be sent but to the closest available branch.

Blair Nimmo, head of restructuring at KPMG and joint administrator, said administrators will be providing assistance and support to those who are affected, adding: “Our intention is to continue trading across the profitable stores, as collectively the brands have a strong presence on the high street and have proven very popular with consumers.

“At the same time, we will be seeking a buyer for the business and are hopeful of a good level of interest.

“Unfortunately, however, we have had to take the difficult decision to close 70 stores resulting in a significant number of redundancies."