Godfreys of Lowestoft: Jobs go at shop Mary Portas tried to save

Godfreys was established in 1978 and the Suffolk Road store is up for sale

A department store, which was criticised by television retail trouble-shooter Mary Portas, has made 24 staff redundant.

Godfreys of Lowestoft went into administration two weeks ago.

Price Bailey, the administrators, said 15 staff remained at work and some of the laid-off workers could be re-appointed if the firm was sold.

The accountants said it was "in positive discussions with a significant number or potential buyers".

Mary Portas visited the store for her Secret Shopper television programme on Channel 4

Portas secretly filmed staff serving customers for her Channel 4 show The Secret Shopper earlier this year and concluded customer service was not good enough.

Lowestoft was one of 15 towns to get a share of £1.5m in 2012 as part of Portas' review of struggling high streets.

'Successful' clearance sale

Godfreys went into administration on 19 August and was put up for sale.

Stuart Morton, insolvency practitioner at Price Bailey, said: "A highly successful grand clearance sale has assisted with the short-term cash flow situation.

"Also we have been talking to potentially interested parties in the business and others who are looking at the building in Suffolk Road.

"Unfortunately it has been necessary to make 24 members of staff redundant while 15 remain, but we wish to point out that some of those made redundant may return to work if we find a purchaser for some or all of the business."

Godfreys was established on London Road North in 1978 as a heating and plumbing supplies business.

In 1993 it took over hardware store RJ Pryce on Suffolk Road to establish a department store which also sold products for the house and garden.

The administrator said it hoped to conclude a sale of Godfreys "within the next two weeks, if not sooner".