Update: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which was appointed to the group on Wednesday, has begun the process of shutting  187 stores including the Isle of Wight  with the loss of 1,370 jobs.

The administrators said further job losses are likely at the group’s head office in Leicester.

PwC had held “extensive discussions” with suppliers, but it was apparent that Jessops could not continue to trade.  Stock would be collected from the shops and taken to a warehouse, where it would be returned to suppliers.

As a result of the closure of the shops, customers would not be able to return products.

Photography chain Jessops which has an outlet on the Isle of Wight is reported as on the verge of administration.

An application for administration was reported as filed this morning at the High Court.

According to the  Telegraph : The struggling retailer could go into administration as early as the end of today, and is poised to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers as the administrator.

Jessops has yet to reveal the locations of the shops that will be hit.

Retail Week, which broke the story, reported that PricewaterhouseCoopers has been lined up as the administrator.

Retail Week reports that PwC has been lined up as the administrator after speculation that suppliers would invest in the business failed to come to fruition.

Shop closures form part of a ‘commercial viability review’ of stores nationwide, the chain announced in a statement.

The retailer said: “In early 2013 there are 15 stores that do not meet the required level of viability and so, unfortunately, these stores will close.

“Jessops will work with the colleagues at these stores to ensure that, wherever possible, they are offered roles elsewhere in the company.”