The owner of some of the UK's biggest shopping centres has warned it's on the verge of calling in administrators, in a move that could place more than 17 outlets at risk of closure.
Intu, which owns Manchester's Trafford Centre and the Lakeside complex in Essex, is hoping to secure a deal with its lenders by midnight on Friday.
It comes just days after the company placed administrators KPMG are on standby, prompting fears outlets could be forced to close without an agreement.
The firm, which has been struggling with £4.5billion worth of debt, is hoping to reach a "standstill" on its debts with lenders.