SOME 900 jobs and 30 stores are under threat after the UK arm of Habitat went into administration.

Separately, current owner Hilco has struck a deal with Homebase and Argos owner Home Retail Group allowing it to buy the UK rights to the Habitat brand in the UK, the website and three stores in central London for �24.5 million.

Hilco said the stores not included in the deal will trade as normal while the administrator, Fraser Gray of Zolfo Cooper, talks to interested parties.

Habitat has two stores in the region - in Thurrock and Cambridge.