Hundreds of jobs under threat could be saved after the owners of Centrale shopping centre provided a lifeline on concessions stalls stricken by the Allders crisis.

Up to 850 jobs are at risk at the 150-year-old department store after it entered administration on June 15.

In response, Hammerson, which bought Centrale for £100m last year, met with bosses of its two flagship stores, Debenhams and House of Fraser, to secure employment for the 550 people connected to the concessions stalls in the North End store, should it close.

Lawrence Hutchings, managing director of Hammerson UK retail, said: “The news about Allders was hugely disappointing – about 300 jobs within the store and those of the concessions on top.

“Since buying Centrale we have become part of Croydon’s retail community and feel we have a joint responsibility to assist.

"We are funding a jobs programme in the community and if the store was to close we would work with Jon Rouse (chief executive of Croydon Council) to find those people jobs.”

Since the announcement on June 15 the store has been covered in closing down signs as administrators Duff and Phelps look to recover the company’s debts.

As part of cost-cutting measures even the company’s website was closed as it was considered to be too expensive to maintain.

Monique Rebeiro, co-founder of hat seller Hatz, which opened a concession in Allders in 2006, said she had been in talks with Croydon Council about finding a new site should it close.

Mrs Rebeiro, who is owed more than £20,000 in concessions, said: “We are in a position where we do not expect to be getting our money back. We have negotiated to receive our payment from sales weekly with the administrators so that should improve our cash flow and there has been lot of support.

“I have spoken to Jon Rouse and council leader Mike Fisher and they have both been very supportive.”

A spokesman for Duff and Phelps said all efforts would be made to recover any monies owed by Allders.