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A message on the HMV site reads: "The website HMV.com has been suspended following the appointment of the Joint Administrators. No purchases can be made online until further notice."

HMV has told CVG that future pre-orders are no longer available on any products, following news that the retailer has suspended the redemption of gift vouchers.

HMV announced its intention to enter administration on Monday evening following a crisis meeting with board members. It is believed that Christmas trading was not sufficient enough for HMV to secure covenants for creditors.

Deloitte will now attempt to find a buyer for the retailer, which runs over 230 stores and employs some 4,500 staff.

A spokesperson for HMV has said it hopes to work "as close to normal store practices as possible" during its administration period.

CVG's Rob Crossley wrote this week in an opinion piece about the disastrous but seemingly inevitable fall of HMV: "A retailer with nearly one hundred years of experience, HMV has done a frankly miserable job of countering the buying power of supermarket chains and the growing prominence of home delivery websites and digital downloads."