The protracted saga has resulted in the company's former employees being unable to claim redundancy as no form of insolvency has been entered.

According to staff, more than two months have passed since they were last paid by the company, which has been in a state of limbo for nearly a month.

Employees were told on 26 May that the company was going into administration and they had been made redundant, a letter confirming the redundancy followed, however no change has occurred.

However, Rimes & Co said that when the company goes into administration, it will be writing to relevant parties informing them as to how they can claim outstanding wages and holiday pay.

In the last fortnight, MPC has also claimed to have merged with an Oxford-based company, which they have attempted to keep out of the public eye.

PrintWeek has been forwarded an email from MPC director Finn Payne to customers stating that MPC has merged with an Oxford printer.

In the email, Payne said: "We are now back up and running in the new production plant in Oxford. At this point in time, I can't tell you what the name of the company is that we have merged with as we don't want them to get any bad press like we have. However, the new company moving forward will be called Maurice Payne Ltd."

The email goes on to state that the company MPC claims to be merging with has a "10 Colour B1 with Cut Star and an eight-colour B1".

According to industry sources, the only known printer with a Cut Star-equipped press in the Oxford area is Abingdon-based Nuffield Press.

However, Nuffield managing director Peter Kennerley had not returned calls from PrintWeek.