There is fresh hope that jobs in Norfolk could be saved with the high street fashion retailer Joules seemingly on the verge of being saved.

It comes after Joules revealed that the company had gone into administration earlier this month.

But now the Foschini Group (TFG), which also owns brands including Hobbs and Whistles, is said to be in advanced talks to take on roughly three quarters of Joules' shops.

The retailer has around 1,600 staff and about 130 stores across the country, including in Norwich, Holt, Burnham Market, Wells-next-the-Sea and Southwold.

Sky News reported on Wednesday (November 30) that TFG is close to securing an agreement to buy the majority of Joules' stores and assets. 

One source said a deal could be struck as soon as Wednesday afternoon. 

If completed, it is reported that roughly a quarter of Joules' 132 shops could still close, which would mean the loss of "several hundred" jobs. 

The company has suffered a slump in shares over the past year following profit warnings amid soaring costs and a downturn in consumer spending.