THE future for staff at Worcester shop Phones 4u has been thrown into doubt today as the business went into administration.

The company, which has two shops in the city centre, made the announcement this morning (Monday) putting 5,600 jobs across the country into jeopardy.

The 550 stores nationwide were shut all day, including the shops in Worcester High Street and The Shambles, as attempts were made to sell the business.

The collapse follows a shock decision by EE to join Vodafone in cutting ties with the retailer, which sells contracts on behalf of the network operators.

Staff were told to turn up for work today but their future looks bleak pending a decision by administrators from PwC on whether the private equity-owned business can be reopened for trading.

In Worcester this morning one staff member said they were not allowed to make comment about the situation and later in the day no one was answering the phone at either store.

This was also the case for the company's customer service line and website, which now just shows a message from Phones 4u.

It is the same message posted in the windows of the stores, which reads: "Dear Customer, Following the unexpected decision of EE and Vodafone to withdraw supply from Phones4U, we regret that we are offline. Please accept our apologies and we will update you as soon as possible."

It goes on to list phone numbers, which can be used: "Our customer service lines are: Phones 4u Customer Service 0844 8712253; Technical Support 0844 8712233; Handset Repairs 0844 8712269; Phones 4u Care (Insurance) 0844 8710535; LIFE Mobile Customer Service 0844 3221133.

"Thank you for your custom. The heartbroken Phones4u Team."

Marc Bayliss, Worcester City Council cabinet member for the economy, said his thoughts were with staff.

"I feel very sorry for the people involved who might lose their jobs," he said. "I think there's some hope but it seems they are facing real difficulties.

"It's always sad when retailers shut and they are in tow places in the High Street and The Shambles, so that's regrettable and disappointing."

All mobile contracts bought through Phones 4u will remain unaffected and the networks will continue to provide mobile services to customers.

Phones 4u said the decision by EE not to renew its current contract, which is due to end in September next year, came as a "complete shock" and meant it would be left without a single network partner after Vodafone said earlier this month that it would not extend its agreement.

The company is owned by private equity firm BC Partners and employs 5,596 people.

Stefano Quadrio Curzio, a representative of BC Partners, said: "Vodafone has acted in exactly the opposite way to what they had consistently indicated to the management of Phones 4u over more than six months.

"Their behaviour appears to have been designed to inflict the maximum damage to their partner of 15 years, giving Phones 4u no time to develop commercial alternatives.

"EE's decision on Friday is surprising in the context of a contract that has more than a year to run and leaves the board with no alternative but to seek the administrator's protection in the interests of all its stakeholders."

Vodafone said it rejected any suggestion that it behaved inappropriately during its negotiations with Phones 4u.