Up to 980 jobs are being axed at retailer New Look under plans to shut 60 stores and slash rent on nearly 400 shops as part of a rescue deal, the company said – but there is no word on whether the Worcester branch will be affected.

New Look has asked creditors for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) which will allow it to continue trading while cutting costs such as high rent bills.

There are plans to shut 60 stores but there has not been announcement on which branches will face the axe.

This means that the Worcester branch, in Crowngate Shopping Centre, could be among those to shut.

A New Look spokesman said that the store closures would lead to redundancies, with up to 980 jobs out of its workforce of 15,300 under threat, although it would look to redeploy staff where possible.

New Look's rescue plan will also see the group ask landlords to slash the rent and revise leases on 393 stores across the UK.