CHATHAM’S flagship store Allders has been bought by high street giants Debenhams.

Debenhams made an 11th hour bid for the store giving a reprieve to staff who had feared for their jobs.

Although the company has not yet revealed its future plans, it has welcomed Allders staff and insisted they will be made welcome.

On Friday, 680 Allders jobs were axed across the group, including 471 store employees

Sixteen out of the Chatham store's 184 full-time staff have been made redundant.

Rob Templeman, Debenhams chief executive said: ”Taking over Allders stores is very good news for us as we continue to deliver our plan to roll out more than 200 Debenhams stores across the UK and Ireland.

“We intend to bring the full Debenhams offer, including our fast-growing designer ranges, to these locations as quickly as possible. We pleased to welcome Allders staff to the group.”

Debenhams has taken the reigns of eight Allders stores from the adminstrators who were dealing with the crisis-hit Allders chain.

The Allders Group, which has 45 outlets, collapsed last month

Kroll, the company handling the administration, has sold a total of 24 Allders stores to Bhs, Debenhams and Primark

Allders Bromley store has been taken over by cut-price clothing chain Primark.