The firm ceased trading on 22 March and Matt Henderson of Grant Thornton was appointed as provisional liquidator. An interim liquidator will not be appointed until 4 April, once the winding-up order has been granted.

According to GPMU officer Norman King, staff believed up until last week that the company had been trading well and that it had a good future.

"Staff were told last Monday (18 March) that work had dried up and not to come in. We instructed them to pin down the management and find out exactly what was happening. Then on Friday they were told that it had gone into liquidation," said King.