Sports clothing retailer Allsports has gone into administration putting 1,700 jobs at risk, it has emerged.

Administrator BDO Stoy Hayward said the 267-store chain was hit by a "significant" decline in like-for-like sales and a price war among sportswear retailers.

It said trading would continue while decisions on what action to take were made, but added that store closures and job losses were inevitable.

Dermot Power, partner at BDO Stoy Hayward, said there would be a "significant" number of store closures, although it was early to say how many.

The remaining stores will continue to operate while the administrators weigh up any offers for the remaining part of the business. However, Mr Power did not believe there would be a swift sale.

He said: "The business faces numerous challenges. We need to look at the issues and take the necessary actions to allow the business to move forward.

"While we are assessing the situation it is our intention to continue trading as normal."

He said Stockport-based Allsports had been hit by changing trends in the retail sector, with operators moving towards either the value or fashion ends of the market. Allsports was left in the middle since it did not operate in any particular niche.

BDO also confirmed Allsports founder and chairman David Hughes had secured a deal to buy £10m of the company's debt.

This debt will take priority over that owed to suppliers and to Premiership football team Charlton Athletic, which is thought to awaiting a substantial amount in sponsorship fees by Allsports.

Majority shareholder Mr Hughes is said to want to buy the hub of the business, but it is thought he will face competition from rival Sports World.

Allsports is the latest in a series of retailers to be hit by the slowdown in consumer spending.

Allsports, which has been hit by a price war involving operators such as JJB Sports and Sports World, recently put itself up for sale but was unsuccessful in finding a buyer.