FEARS have been raised about the future of jobs after franchises that run Burger King restaurants across the area went into administration.

Buyers are not being sought for 36 of the fast-food restaurants across the country including the ones in The Mall in Blackburn and the Arndale Centre in Accrington.

The Blackburn restaurant opened just before Christmas in what was hailed as a vote of confidence in the town centre.

Mall bosses said neighbouring restaurant El Taco Loco is included under the CPL Foods Limited franchise and both will continue to operate as normal during the sale process.

It is thought dozens of jobs could be under threat after the businesses experienced ‘cash flow pressures’.

Nick Cropper, Ryan Grant, and Catherine Williamson of global business-advisory firm AlixPartners Services UK LLP have been appointed joint administrators over Millcliffe Limited and CPL Foods Limited.

The administrators said the 'cash flow pressure' was primarily due to ‘delays in developing and opening new stores linked to their growth strategy’.

They said they will continue to trade all the companies’ stores while ‘exploring all possible options for a sale of all or parts of the business’.

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall Blackburn, said: “We are aware that business advisory firm AlixPartners has been appointed as administrators over national company CPL Foods Ltd and a new franchisee for the business is actively being sought.

“Burger King and El Taco Loco have both proven extremely popular here at The Mall and our branches will continue to trade as usual during this process.”

Nick Cropper, joint administrator, said: “Our priority now is to work closely with the business and determine the optimum route forward for the companies as we continue to serve our valued guests throughout the UK.

“We are confident that the companies are an attractive proposition for a range of potential buyers."

Blackburn Chamber of Trade president Tony Duckworth said: “I am sorry to hear it is having difficulties but there are a lot of fast-food operators that have come to Blackburn recently.