Shropshire’s two Principles stores have closed their doors after the high street fashion retailer was unable to find a buyer for the business.

Administrators announced on Saturday that 66 stores across the country were to close with Debenhams acquiring most of its stock.

The Shrewsbury store in the Pride Hill centre failed to open today and the stock has now been cleared.

A sign in the window tells shoppers the nearest store is now in Telford. The Principles store in Telford Shopping Centre was also closed today and it is not known whether the concessions department in Outfit in Forge Retail Park will remain.

Administrators have said the “vast majority” of the 2,300 jobs at the retailer nationwide were expected to go.

Lee Manning, of administrators Deloitte, said: “Regrettably, we will be closing 66 high street Principles stores, but will be continuing to trade the remaining 19.

“Unfortunately there will be significant redundancies over the coming weeks, and we can confirm that yesterday 110 head office staff were made redundant.”

Paul Bettis, vice-chairman of the Shrewsbury Business Chamber, today said: “I am very sorry to hear the news and we can only hope that the economy picks up.”

The demise of the fashion retailer has fuelled fears that the recession is turning the country’s high streets into “ghost towns”.

A survey by the Local Government Association last month found that more than four out of five areas in England had seen an increase in closures.