A Scots retailer has bought troubled high-street clothes chain Peacocks out of administration.

Langholm-based Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which has 380 stores, will keep the Cardiff headquarters of Peacocks but administrator KPMG said 16 jobs will go in the city.

Edinburgh Woolen Mill has taken on the Peacocks brand, 388 shops and concessions, as well as the Cardiff HQ and logistics division in Wales.

The administrators says the deal has protected around 6000 jobs in the UK. However, 224 stores were not included in the deal, and these have closed with the loss of 3100 jobs.

Around 250 staff at the company's headquarters were made redundant in January.

Chris Laverty, joint administrator and restructuring partner at KPMG, said: "Today’s deal ensures the continued trading of a well known name on the high street. While it is unfortunate that redundancies have been necessary, we are pleased that we have been able to preserve the majority of the business and jobs."

Peacocks collapsed under a debt mountain last month in the biggest retail failure since Woolworths, placing 7,500 jobs in jeopardy.

Edinburgh Woolen Mill, which beat Indian textile and clothing giant S Kumars Nationwide, said it would attempt to save some of the stores and jobs being lost.

However, chief executive Philip Day added: "As you can imagine, there will be a considerable amount of work to undertake over the next few months to stabilise the situation, turn this business around, get the supply chain moving again and excite the customers with great products."

Edinburgh Woolen Mill last year bought 33 of Jane Norman's 94 stores out of administration, saving some 400 jobs.

Fashion chain Bonmarche, which was part of the Peacock Group, was sold last month in a deal that will lead to 1,400 job losses and 160 store closures.

Private equity firm Sun European Partners bought 230 stores and will continue to employ 2,400 staff.