Eighties sportswear brand Animal is to axe all of its remaining stores in a move that will make it the latest high street coronavirus lockdown victim.
The company will permanently close in 2021, seven years after initially filing for liquidation, Mirror Money can reveal.
Its owner cited "a challenging retail market" for the decision, adding that the retailer's pressures have been accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis.
Administrators were first called in on the sports-inspired clothing brand in February 2014, closing seven stores and axing 50 retail roles.
Last month, the business closed one store in Andover, Hants, after the lease expired.
A company told the Mirror there are now plans to close the website and all remaining outlets by 2021 amid an ongoing funding crisis.
Animal, which is owned by H.Young Holdings, is a UK action sports lifestyle brand based in Poole, Dorset.
The business was founded in 1987 by two surfers, with a single product, the hook and loop watch strap.
It first slipped into administration in 2014, when it was sold from Clubsport (Kington) Ltd to H.Young Holdings, saving around 43 jobs.
The company has since continued to operate in concessions, with a number of standalone branches around the UK.
A statement told the Mirror: "As a result of the extremely challenging retail market which has now further worsened due to Covid-19, H. Young announces it will be closing its Animal business by the end of January 2021.
"This will obviously be a very sad announcement for all Animal’s hardworking employees and its loyal customers. In this period Animal will continue trading through its stores and its website and its clothing will also be available through its distributors.
"Finally we would like to thank everyone for all their support over these many years."
Animal's decision to close follows in the footsteps of Oasis, Warehouse and Laura Ashley, all of whom have gone into administration over the past month.
Just last week, Britain's oldest department store Debenhams crashed into administration for the second time this year.
The company said it has no plans to re-open in Ireland once coronavirus lockdown measures are relaxed.
In the UK, the fate of its stores are now in the hands of its landlords - with the business now seeking a five month rent holiday on the majority of its estate.
Its website remains open for the time being - while gift cards and exchanges are still being honoured.
A Debenhams spokesman said: "This move will protect Debenhams from the threat of legal action that could have the effect of pushing the business into liquidation while its 142 UK stores remain closed in line with the Government's current advice regarding the Covid-19 pandemic."
Laura Ashley has also said it will permanently close 70 stores after sliding into administration, while footwear chain Office has been put on the market by its South African owner Truworths International.
And on Thursday, it emerged that iconic shirtmaker TM Lewin is on the hunt for a new business owner.
The London-based retailer, founded in 1898, has been put up for sale, along with its 66 UK stores.
Approximately 650 of the company's 700 staff have been furloughed under the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The company is now open to offers with the auction being run by Alantra, a corporate finance firm.
Elsewhere, Flybe has also closed its doors, while Carluccio's and BrightHouse have since collapsed.
Cath Kidston has also closed all 60 of its UK stores - with no plans to re-open after lockdown.
An estimated 20,000 stores will be lost by the end of the year, according to figures from the Centre for Retail Research, a massive jump on the 4,547 that closed in 2019.
It comes amid fresh calls for the Government to extend its furlough scheme to support businesses who are unable to trade due to lockdown measures.
According to Alvarez & Marsal, the consultancy firm managing the collapse of Cath Kidston and sale of footwear chain Office, half of Britain's high street chains may never reopen due to coronavirus.
Its study of 34 retailers in Britain, including Next and John Lewis, found that five already had a negative cash flow before the pandemic had even begun, relying on credit to fund any investment.
The report found that even if sales dropped 10% during the lockdown period, more than two-thirds of retailers would fall into negative cashflow.
But it suggests that sales are set to drop as much as 70% - placing every retailer sampled into dangerous territory.
Richard Fleming, managing director at Alvarez & Marsal, said government measures have so far saved many brands from immediate collapse.
"The next few weeks will be critical.
"Retailers need to ask themselves the tough questions and take steps to address underlying operational issues while they still have the chance,” he added.
