THE country's largest musical instrument retailer, Sound Control, has suddenly closed the doors to its Southampton store after the company went into administration.

Staff were notified yesterday the large city centre shop was one of several of the firm's 26 national outlets being shut with immediate effect.

The 15 members of staff - all but one full time - are among 163 workers who have been made redundant.

Sound Control, which has an annual turnover of £50m and 338 employees nationwide, was formed when the first store opened as a local hire company in Dunfermline in Scotland, in October 1980.

Selling musical instruments and recording equipment, the business expanded to open stores across the country, including those under brand names Media Tools, Turnkey and Soho Sound House.

In 2000 the business was expanded to include online retail sales, which has also now closed as a result of the financial problems.

The Southampton branch, on the large former Safeway supermarket site opposite Debenhams, opened three years ago.

One worker at the shop told the Daily Echo the staff were left stunned at the sudden closure.

"We've not really been told anything, so it's just all been a bit of a shock," he said.

"We were just told to leave the premises immediately because the company has gone into administration.

"We've all got mortgages and rents to pay, but they've said none of us will be eligible for redundancy pay."

Sound Control yesterday applied for administration through Deloitte, citing increased competition from online sellers.

Trading is to continue at 16 stores while a buyer is sought, but with the closest outlets being in London and Bristol there is no chance of the Southampton staff being relocated.

The news of Sound Control's difficulties comes at an increasingly worrying time for all high street retailers.

Sales fell sharply in April compared with the same month last year, according to findings announced by the Confederation of British Industry.

More than half - 52 per cent - of all retailers questioned in the latest Distributive Trades survey said sales volumes were lower than 12 months earlier, and just 25 per cent said they were higher.

While there may be mitigating factors, including the early Easter and comparatively poor weather this April, the survey is further evidence of shoppers tightening their belts amidst increasing talk of a wider economic downturn.