The owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill has secured a deal to rescue the brand from disappearing for good after it crashed into administration last year.

The firm, which has stores in Colchester and Clacton, will also see some of sister brand Ponden Home shops stay open.

Administrators at FRP confirmed 246 stores will be saved by Purepay Retail, which is controlled by former owner Philip Day.

The deal secures the future for 1,453 workers.

However, 85 Edinburgh Woollen Mill and 34 Ponden Home stores have been permanently closed as part of the agreement. It is not yet know how the two north Essex stores will be impacted.

Another sister brand fashion chain Peacocks remains in administration.

Tony Wright, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: “We have extensively marketed these businesses for sale and this transaction provides the best chance to save stores and jobs, but also meet our own statutory obligations to creditors.

“However, with such little visibility on future trading conditions in UK retail, we regret that not all of Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home could be rescued.

“This has resulted in a significant number of redundancies at a particularly challenging time of year and period of economic uncertainty.

“We have a team working hard to support all those affected as we help make applications for redundancy payments.”

The deal will come too late for some staff, with around one third of the 2,571 employees already made redundant.