Scores of Sussex jobs have been safeguarded after a Russian tycoon bought a chain of bookshops.

Embattled UK entertainment retailer HMV Group has agreed to sell its ailing Waterstone’s bookstore business to billionaire Alexander Mamut for £53 million to pay off some of its considerable debt.

Mr Mamut has appointed James Daunt, a former City banker and the founder of six bookshops in London to head up Waterstone’s.

The chain employs more than 70 people in nine stores across the county including Brighton, Worthing, Haywards Heath, Crawley, Horsham and Chichester.