COURTS furnishing stores, a long-established company founded in Kent, were closed on Tuesday after administrators were called in to sort out its financial affairs.

The struggling retailer, founded in Canterbury in 1850 by Henry Court, has stores across the country, including Maidstone, Gravesend and Canterbury. It collapsed with debts of £280m.

All the UK stores were closed on November 30 to allow the administrators time to undertake a stock take.

They said they hoped to re-open them “as soon as is practical”. Shares were suspended on November 29.

Customers who have paid deposits by credit card for furniture not yet received were urged to seek a refund from their card provider.

Administrators will be writing to customers who have paid a deposit in other ways. A helpline has been set up for customers and shareholders worried about the situation.

The decision of the High Court to appoint Mick McLoughlin and Chris Laverty of KPMG Corporate Recovery as joint administrators to Courts Plc and Courts (UK) Limited follows several years of losses in a competitive market.

The company has been restructuring its operations but financial difficulties have made it impossible to complete the process.

Mr McLoughlin, head of KPMG Corporate Recovery, said: “We will be writing to customers who have paid deposits for goods not received.

“Those customers who have paid deposits by credit card should contact their card provider as they may be able to obtain a refund direct from them.

“I would urge people seeking further information to call the helpline number we have specifically set up for customers and shareholders or to visit the Courts website.”

He added: “Courts has suffered from an increasingly competitive UK marketplace and tight margins.”

A customer and shareholder information sheet is available at www.courts.co.uk and the customer and shareholder helpline number is: 0870 950 1333.

A number of buyers are thought to be interested in the company, which runs 88 furniture retail outlets, consisting of 22 high street stores and 66 superstores.

The company employs about 2,500 staff and has an annual UK turnover of around £250m. Its overseas operations are not affected.