Fashion a shake-up

R Us shops The final 75 Toys within two still open will close than 2,000 weeks - with more say job losses. Administrators firm’s that all the collapsed by April 24. branches will shut by up Prices will be slashed of to 70% to get shot remaining stock. The firm behind fashion chain Select will today ask store landlords to back big rent reductions. Creditors will vote on implementing a company voluntary arrangement to allow owner Genus UK to slash its outgoings. It wants store owners to agree to reduce rents by 30% or 50% in many cases, and rip-up and renegotiate the terms on another 25. The move has led to fears of jobs losses among its 2,000 workers.

But Genus owner Cafer Mahiroglu insisted: “I am not going to close any stores and there will not be any redundancies.”

Andrew Andronikou, of adviser Quantuma, said it expected today’s vote to pass, adding “we are confident”.

Around 1.3 million EDF Energy customers will be hit with a 2.7% price rise in June. The energy giant is upping its standing charge for electricity by £16 a year. Customers who pay by cash or cheque will also be stung for £6 more. The move was announced 48 hours after British Gas unveiled price hikes.

GUARDED Actress Emilia Clarke Guards working on filming for TV mega-hit Game of Thrones – which costs £10million an episode to make – have been offered an EIGHT PENCE an hour pay rise.

The GMB union branded the increase for more than 40 security staff in Belfast, where big chunks of the blockbuster are shot, as “insulting”. The workers are employed by security giant G4S. The rise would take their pay to £8.13 an hour – just 30p above the minimum wage for over-25 year olds.

Michael Mulholland, GMB organiser, said: “If they can afford to spend £1m on a purpose-built castle for series eight, they can afford to give our members a proper rise.”

G4S secure solutions said: “We provide competitive rates of pay and other benefits to our employees with long term employment and career development opportunities.”