ANYONE holding BHS vouchers is urged to act quickly by a Halton advice charity after the High Street retailer collapsed into administration.

Administrators do not have to honour gift vouchers although some do as a gesture of goodwill.

However, in the case of BHS, administrators have left open a small window of opportunity for the store’s customers.

Hitesh Patel, chief executive of Citizens Advice Halton, said: “The administrators of BHS are currently only allowing up to 50 per cent of any purchases to be paid by vouchers.

“This means if you have a £20 voucher, you have to buy £40 of goods in order to get the full value of the voucher.

“If you can’t spend your voucher you could write to the administrators asking them to put you on their list of unsecured creditors.”

Citizens Advice has a template letter to help consumers do this.

“This would put you at the back of the queue behind the store’s other creditors so as the administrators pay off the firm’s debts it may mean you get very little, or nothing, back, “ added Mr Patel.

Citizens Advice Halton has also set up a temporary fast-track support service for any BHS employees worried about paying their bills, rent, mortgage if no new buyer of the store emerges.

Workers at BHS Home on Widnes Shopping Park face an uncertain future after 11,000 jobs were put at risk at 164 stores.

Andy O’Neill, money advice team supervisor at Citizens Advice Halton added: “These will be very worrying times for BHS employees, many of whom live in Halton.

“It’s never too early to seek advice about your finances and to plan ahead if the worst happens.

“Our team of advisers can help draw up a realistic and affordable household budget statement and help people understand what options they have to paying their bills and other household expenses like food and clothing.”

BHS employees e-mail the money advice team at advice@haltoncab.org.uk or call 0151 257 2449.