Rishton, England, April 21, 2006--Carpet firm, Gaskell Mackay, has closed with the loss of 134 jobs.
Staff based at the company's Wheatfield Mill site, in Parker Street, were told yesterday afternoon that the company was going into administration.
Leaving work there for the last time, a worker, who did not want to be named, said: "Everyone is very upset. We knew the company was having problems, but this has come as a huge shock. I have no idea what I am going to do now. A lot of people have worked here for a long time."
The administrators, BWC Business Solutions, said they were called in because there were insufficient funds to cover trading losses.
They said strenuous efforts had been made by the directors and financial backers to dispose of the business as a going concern, but those attempts had failed. Joint administrator, Gary Blackburn, said: "Regrettably, the company had to close its doors and all its workforce have been made redundant; the union has been consulted.
"We are exploring the possibility of an early sale of the major items of plant and machinery, including stock, and a number of approaches have been made to interested parties.
"The directors and financial backers have made strenuous efforts to dispose of the business as a going concern, without success."
Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said it was a difficult time for the manufacturing industry.
He said: "I am really upset to hear this terrible news. My heart goes out to the people who are losing their jobs and their families. It is a difficult and worrying time for them.
"The only small silver lining to what is a very dark cloud is that unemployment in Hyndburn is very low. There are jobs out there and the Job Centre has a good track record of helping people find alternative work."
The company emerged from the ashes of Gaskell Plc, which went into administration in March last year.
