SEVEN branches of The Body Shop have been closed with immediate effect, with more closures likely.

The Body Shop has announced new restructuring plans which could see nearly half of its 198 UK stores close, with seven shops shutting down immediately.

Administrators for the retail chain also said they will be cutting about 40 per cent of head office roles, which amounts to around 270 jobs.

The plans are expected to secure the future of The Body Shop, after it fell into administration earlier this month, according to administrators FRP.

ALSO READ:

Seven UK shops shut down on Tuesday (February 20), with more closures to follow after the retail chain fell into administration.

The stores immediately hit by the closures include four based in London, in Surrey Quays, Oxford Street Bond Street, Canary Wharf, and Cheapside.

Stores in Nuneaton in Warwickshire, Ashford Town Centre in Kent, and Bristol Queen’s Road in Bristol are also closing immediately.

While the group’s other stores will continue to trade until further updates from insolvency experts overseeing the process, the move leaves the future of Hereford's branch of The Body Shop hanging in the balance.

The Hereford shop is at the corner of Gomond Street and Commercial Street. 

The chain is not the first to find itself in trouble in recent months, with Hereford still suffering the loss of Wilko, which closed down in September, leaving a large portion of the city's Maylord Shopping Centre lying empty.

The chain closed all of its shops after administrators PwC failed to secure a deal from any suitable buyer to buy the business.