The accountancy and business recovery company, which was called in to the Sutton in Ashfield-based firm on 30 January, has said that trade creditors are owed 8m, PAYE 1.7m and finance companies 9.5m.

A spokeswoman for KPMG said that it was obligated to investigate the collapse but that no decision had been made on whether to report directors of the old Howitt, including former chief executive James Elliot, to the DTI.

Companies House records show that the accounts for the former Howitt company for the year ending December 2002 have still not been filed. It is doubtful whether they ever will be.

The former Colorgraphic trio of Nick Dixon, Rick Taylor and Mike Hunter rescued the company from administration. The new owners are not connected in any way to the former Howitt.

Story by John Davies