TWENTY-one staff are facing redundancy in East Lancashire after the collapse of a national video games chain.

Administrators acting on behalf of GAME, which had three high street stores across the area, have confirmed that each would be closing.

Rescue proposals are being drawn up to safeguard nearly 2,850 jobs and 333 stores nationwide, say PriceWaterhouseCooper officials.

But seven jobs apiece are set to be lost at their branches in Victoria Court in Blackburn, St James Street, Burnley and Broadway in Accrington, as a result of the administration.

Another 274 stores across the UK will close with the loss of another 2,050 jobs.

Mike Jervis, joint administrator, said: “The group has faced serious cash-flow and profit issues recently.”

Other difficulties prompted by an unsuccessful international expansion, high fixed costs and capital problems are also said to have contributed to GAME’s demise.