AN Italian restaurant chain has fallen into administration, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

Carluccio's, which has a restaurant inside Colchester's Fenwick store, in High Street, appointed Geoff Rowley and Philip Reynolds of FRP joint administrators on Monday.

FRP says it is "urgently addressing all options for the future" of the firm, which has 71 restaurants across the country and around 2,000 employees.

It added the "primary purpose of this and any administration is the rescue of the company".

All Carluccio's restaurants and delis are closed.