About 60 staff at the Jackson's Landing outlet in Hartlepool now face an uncertain future.

The complex, which sells up-market and designer goods, was saved 18 months ago when its then owners went bust.

Hartlepool Borough Council says it is working with current owners, Prohibition, to find an alternative use for the site.

Staff were told of the situation on Friday and spent much of the day clearing the building of stock.

Jackson's Landing opened in a blaze of glory back in 1996.

At the time it was hailed as a breakthrough in retailing and attracted big names like Catherine Hamnet, Versace and Benetton.

Now we need to keep options open and be willing to talk with the owners and any new interested parties about what they see as being viable Stuart Green, Hartlepool Borough Council

But by 2001 almost half of the site was empty and a year later its then owners Designer Room went into liquidation.

But last summer Italian businessman Marino Roberto stepped in and his Prohibition company announced major plans to revitalise the site.

Hartlepool Borough Council's assistant director of economic development, Stuart Green said: "The situation is a serious concern to us and we need to work quite quickly with the owners and other interested parties to try and find new uses for the building.

"We did not have any prior knowledge of what was to happen on Friday, when the operation ceased trading.

"Now we need to keep options open and be willing to talk with the owners and any new interested parties about what they see as being viable.

"This centre has had three or four different formats over the time it has been open and clearly as yet no-one has found a way that stands up in viable terms.

"We will want to work with the company and try and find ways of helping workers involved."