Sports Direct buys House of Fraser in £90m deal

House of Fraser, which has a department store in Meadowhall, Sheffield and one in Doncaster, went into administration this morning after failing to find a buyer to invest and turn the business around.

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It has now been announced this morning that businessman Mike Ashley's Sports Direct chain has struck a deal to buy the firm.

APPEAL: Criticism for South Yorkshire Police for year-long delay in publicising disappearance of paedophileANNIVERSARY: Son of murdered Sheffield woman wants to offer £5,000 reward to help catch killerHouse of Fraser employs 17,500 workers, including 11,500 concession staff.

Of the firm's 59 department sores, 31 have been earmarked for closure as part of a restructuring agreement.

The House of Fraser name was once a jewel of high streets across the country - a department store steeped in history, which typified style and variety.

But like so many before it - including Woolworths, Toys R Us and, most recently, Poundworld - it has fallen victim to the rise in discount stores and the shift in consumer habits from physical purchase to online shopping.

It started out as a small drapery shop in Glasgow in 1849.