Wearside print firm Washington Web has made 60 workers redundant and is likely to lose a Department of Trade & Industry award for 164,000 only weeks after it was awarded.


The news spells more gloom for managing director Paul Hutchinson, who was formerly chief executive at Mayfair Printing in Sunderland.


Mayfair collapsed in May of last year with debts of 2m and the loss of 77 jobs after London paper merchant Capital Paper issued a winding-up order.


Official receivers in Newcastle are continuing to investigate the collapse of Mayfair Printing. Washington Web was registered as a company four months before Mayfair was wound up.


A spokesman confirmed that "certain matters were still outstanding," and that a "considerably large amount of debt was involved".


Hutchinson was unavailable for comment as PrintWeek went to press.