FASHION store The Designer Room has gone into administration, just months after it was relaunched.

A buyer is being sought for the operation, at Jacksons Landing, at Hartlepool Marina. It is part of a chain of 46 outlet stores across the country. However, 18 have already been closed.

Administrators Begbies Traynor, of London, have been appointed to find a buyer for the Hartlepool store, which has 43 staff.

Vivian Bairstow, of the administrators, said: "Hartlepool will continue to trade while the search for a buyer continues. It is one of our flagship stores, and it is very much business as usual."

The store was originally a tenant of the Jacksons Landing Mall at the marina, which opened in 1995, and was called the Fashion Emporium.

In 1997 de Keyser took over the business, which was renamed The Designer Room.

Following an £8.5m management buyout from de Keyser, led by former managing director Richard Walton, and including retail director Charlotte McHardy and finance director Graham Symes, the factory outlet centre underwent a facelift last October, being turned into a department store offering branded merchandise at discounted prices.