Fears over Laura Ashley as shops set to close

Laura Ashley is to close 40 stores in the UK as part of a consolidation of its retail presence.

The company says while it is cutting the number of stores to 120, other stores will be expanded.

However, the company's executive chairman, Andrew Khoo Boo Yeow, has already warned of "tough headwinds" over the next couple of years for the company.

Established in Carno where it had its global headquarters and manufacturing facility, the company used to employ hundreds of staff in Mid Wales.

The company now has its accounts and administrative facility in Newtown, along with its mail order and warehouse.