The directors of one of the North’s longest- established family-run department stores have appointed administrators to its retail and property division, Houston Fashions.

The Houston group of companies employs more than 250 people in Northern Ireland and the Republic. It has been in business for 40 years and its interests include eight retail stores, commercial property holdings and residential property developments.

Stephen Cave and Paul Rooney, from PricewaterhouseCooper have been appointed as joint administrators to the retail and property company Houston Fashions (Ballymena and Lurgan). Houston Fashions employs 68 people and operates four stores in Northern Ireland and two in the Republic.

The stores affected in the North are in Armagh, Ballymena, Enniskillen and Lurgan and in Carlow and Dundalk in the Republic.

Company director John Houston said: “By working closely with the administrators and lenders during this group restructuring, we are pleased that the overwhelming majority of the 250 jobs will be saved.”