Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley is accountable for "appalling" working conditions at the firm's stores, according to a Commons committee.

In a damning indictment of working conditions at the retail giant, MPs said employees were treated as "commodities" rather than human beings.

The hard-hitting report from Westminster's Business Committee suggested Mr Ashley, who owns an 8.92% stake in Rangers FC, was "turning a blind eye to conditions...in the interest of maximising profits".

The committee's report said a spotlight had been shone on the working practices of Sports Direct, which was "extremely disturbing".

"Workers at Sports Direct were not being paid the national minimum wage, and were being penalised for matters such as taking a short break to drink water and for taking time off work when ill," it stated.

"Some say they were promised permanent contracts in exchange for sexual favours.

"Serious health and safety breaches also seem to have occurred.

"For this to occur in the UK in 2016 is a serious indictment of the management at Sports Direct."

MPs said evidence presented by employment agencies the Best Connection and Transline, which employ staff for Sports Direct, was "woefully poor" and in some cases incorrect.

The committee said it was "deliberately misled" by Transline and urged the company to clarify some of its evidence.

Committee chairman Iain Wright said: "The evidence we heard points to a business whose working practices are closer to that of a Victorian workhouse than that of a modern, reputable High Street retailer.

"For this to occur in the UK in 2016 is a serious indictment of the management at Sports Direct and Mike Ashley, as the face of Sports Direct, must be held accountable for these failings.

"It's seems incredible that Mike Ashley, who visits the Shirebrook warehouse at least once a week, was unaware of these appalling practices.

"This suggests Mr Ashley was turning a blind eye to conditions at Sports Direct in the interests of maximising profits or that there are serious corporate governance failings which left him out of the loop in spite of all the evidence."

The report noted that the business model had proved successful for Mr Ashley, and cautioned that it could become "much more the norm" in Britain.

Mr Wright added: "A modern and developed economy focused on innovation and supporting entrepreneurialism and enterprise cannot be allowed to operate like this.

"We were also disgusted at the poor evidence given by the agency companies, who deduct money from low-paid workers without proper explanation and justification."

Mr Ashley has said he will engage with the Unite union to improve conditions for employees in the future.