Online fashion retailer Boohoo has bought the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands for £25.2 million.
But the deal does not include the former owner Arcadia’s 214 shops, including Dorothy Perkins and Burton in Penrith, or the staff employed in them.
Arcadia went into administration last year and last week online brand Asos bought the Toshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HITT brands.
The Arcadia businesses employed 13,000 people across the UK, but only a minority will be employed by the new owners.
Retail trade union Usdaw is seeking urgent meetings with Arcadia administrators and urges them to treat staff with fairness and dignity and is also calling on the Government to urgently act to save our high streets.