Jessops’ administrator, PwC, remains tight-lipped following an article published by Retail Week which yesterday reported that trade and private equity bodies are among the interested parties.

A PwC spokesman declined to comment, telling AP this was ‘speculation’.

However, AP understands that the Retail Week article is accurate.

Meanwhile, PwC has told AP that Jessops stores have attracted interest from ‘household’ high-street names.

The administrator has confirmed that 77 of 150 people set to lose their jobs at Jessops’ head office in Leicester have already been axed.

AP understands that Jessops is likely to hold an auction of any remaining stock.

Jessops closed its chain of 187 stores last Friday, with the loss of around 1,400 jobs.

• NEWS UPDATE Friday 18 January: All remaining Jessops stock will be shifted from high-street stores to a central warehouse in Northampton today, ‘weather permitting’, according to administrator, PwC