Furniture retailer Dwell has ceased trading with immediate effect.

All employees have been asked to stay at home pending confirmation of the appointment of administrators. The company has closed all 23 stores including its House of Fraser concession.

Dwell - which began trading with a single store in Balham, South London in 2003 - grew with locations in London such as Islington, Tottenham Court Road and both Westfield shopping complexes. In recent years it expanded from its London base opening stores in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

The company had its headquarters in Milton Keynes, which was also home to its own central warehouse and distribution centre.

A spokesman for Dwell Retail Limited, said: 'The business had been working with its advisers, to secure further working capital for the business and was actively in the process of talking to a number of interested parties who saw the value of the Dwell brand and product, its customer base and its multi-channel proposition. However, despite this interest it did not progress. As a result we have been left with no option but to close the business with immediate effect.'

From today all stores are closed, the website is no longer open to take orders and no deliveries will be made.

Customers who have bought goods and have outstanding orders have been advised to contact their card issuer in the first instance.