Troubled department store chain House of Fraser has appointed administrators, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

It comes after talks with possible Chinese buyer C.Banner broke down last month.

House of Fraser employs 17,500 people across its 59 stores - including three in Scotland - which will all open as normal on Friday.

Administrators Ernst and Young are seeking a buyer for House of Fraser, which has branches in Edinburgh, Glasgow and at Loch Lomond.

Possible candidates are understood to include Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and Philip Day, who owns Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Frank Slevin, chairman of House of Fraser, said: "This has been an extraordinarily challenging six months, in which the business has delivered so many critical elements of its turnaround plan."

"I am confident House of Fraser is close to securing its future," he added.

C.banner, the Chinese owner of Hamleys, pulled out of talks last week with Cenbest, the majority owner of the chain.

It had planned to buy 51% of Cenbest's 89% stake in House of Fraser and plough £70m into the ailing retailer.

Frasers chief executive Alex Williamson said: "We are hopeful that the current negotiations will shortly be concluded.

"An acquisition of the business will see House of Fraser regain stability, certainty and financial strength.

"In the two weeks since the Cenbest and C.Banner transaction ceased, the directors have brought forward a number of potential buyers.

"The group's financial advisers have run a comprehensive process to identify and then develop other third-party interest that has culminated in the senior secured creditors leading negotiations with parties at a critical pace."

House of Fraser was founded as a drapery shop in Glasgow nearly 170 years ago.