THE owners of fashion chain Peacocks were today heading for a major pay day after reportedly lining up plans for an 800m sale or refinancing deal.

The speculation comes just weeks after the budget fashion chain opened a major new 12,000 sq ft Southampton store in Above Bar Street.

The Wales-based chain has 14 stores in the region, employing hundreds of staff.

A refinancing deal would allow the owners to cash in some of their gains, since a consortium took the firm private in a 404m management buyout in January 2006.