Pizza Hut to shut 68 restaurants in the UK

Pizza Hut is to close 68 restaurants and 11 delivery sites with the loss of more than 1,200 jobs after the company behind its UK venues fell into administration.

The company has said 1,210 workers are being made redundant as part of the closures. DC London Pie, the firm running Pizza Hut's restaurants in the UK, appointed administrators from corporate finance firm FTI on Monday.

It comes less than a year after the business bought the chain's restaurants from insolvency. On Monday, American hospitality giant Yum! Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut business, said it had bought the UK restaurant operation in a pre-pack administration deal - a rescue deal that will save 64 sites and secure the future of 1,276 workers.

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK confirmed the Yum! deal and said as a result it was "pleased to secure the continuation of 64 sites to safeguard our guest experience and protect the associated jobs. "Approximately 2,259 team members will transfer to the new Yum! equity business under UK TUPE legislation, including above-restaurant leaders and support teams." Nicolas Burquier, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, called Monday's agreement a "targeted acquisition" which, he said, "aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible.

"Our immediate priority is operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition." Read more on Sky News:Andrew 'should live in exile'What's affected by internet outageBlind patients regain sight The administration came after HMRC filed a winding up petition on Friday against DC London Pie. DC London Pie was the company formed after Directional Capital, which operated franchises in Sweden and Denmark, snapped up 139 UK restaurants from the previous UK franchisee Heart with Smart Limited in January of this year..