Oxford workers at Phones 4u are waiting to discover what will happen as the telecommunications company is to go into administration.

It comes as network operator EE joined Vodafone in cutting ties with the retailer.

The company has three stores in Oxford in Cornmarket Street, the Clarendon Centre and in Cowley.

Phones 4u, which employs 5,500 people nationwide, said its stores will be closed today pending a decision by the administrators on whether the business can be reopened for trading.

It said the decision by EE not to renew its current contract, which is due to end in September next year, was a "complete shock" and meant it would be left without a single network partner after Vodafone said earlier this month that it would not extend its agreement.

The Phones 4u website has also gone offline.