Staff at Lancashire branches of childrenswear chain Adams look set to become the latest victims of the recession.

The company has applied to appoint administrators in a move that will place hundreds of stores and jobs across the country under threat.

The 75-year-old company, which has branches in Accrington, Blackpool, Chorley, Lancaster and Skelmersdale, filed a notice of its intention to appoint PriceWaterhouseCoopers as administrators on Christmas Eve.

A spokeswoman for PriceWaterhouseCoopers said it was not certain when the firm would be formally appointed as administrators.