The closure of the St Helens-based company has meant that 16 staff, excluding the four directors, have been made redundant.

Ratten said: "Following a meeting with creditors, we will now look to dispose of the company assets in order to achieve the best results for the company creditors."

In a previously reported letter to staff, Mark Ward, managing director of Rhodes Printing said liquidation was "necessary" due to the financial position of the company

He added: "Unfortunately, the company is no longer in the position to make payments to you for services rendered under the contract of employment."

However, Blackburn-based LBH Litho has since confirmed that it is "in discussions" with Mark Ward and Rhodes Printing sales manager Tricia Lyons about a possible move to the company.

In a fax from Rhodes Printing seen by PrintWeek, Lyons said: "Sorry for the inconvenience, Rhodes Printing has now unfortunately ceased trading, however LBH Litho has taken on board some of Rhodes Printing's clients with myself as sales manager overseeing existing jobs."

The collapse follows on from the liquidation of Abbotts Creative Print, which was acquired out of administration by a company called TWRM, of which Mark Ward was also a director.