Gap's UK losses have worsened, due to falling sales.

Pre-tax losses for the US-based fashion retailer, which has stores in Cheltenham and Gloucester, increased from £19.4 million to £20.2 million for the year to January 28, as reported by Retail Gazette .

Meanwhile, total sales across the group declined by almost 10 per cent from £306.7 million to £276.3 million and high street like-for-likes fell sharply by seven per cent.

But there is one glimmer of hope - like-for-like sales at the company's outlet stores, like the one at Gloucester Quays, have risen by eight per cent.

Gap said the losses were also due to the closure of 15 loss-making stores, including all eight of its Banana Republic shops, after it decided to withdraw the brand from the UK market entirely.