An examiner has been appointed to the fashion chain A Wear.

Ken Fennell of Kavanagh Fennell says all 40 of the shops of the chain will remain open during the examinership.

The company says it has suffered from a fall in shoppers and from high rents.

A Wear employs more than 350 people.

In a statement, it said its survival will depend on negotiating lower rents with landlords and it hoped to keep a majority of its stores open.