Jobs lost at conservatory company

Almost 200 people have lost their jobs after a County Durham conservatory company went into administration.

Best Value Conservatories (BVC) manufactured conservatories for the retail trade and self-build markets at a site in Peterlee.

It announced on Wednesday that it had ceased trading after a downturn in sales, blamed on market conditions.

Administrator, KPGM, said 180 of the 208 workforce had been made redundant with immediate effect.

The remainder will be working with the administrators over the coming weeks.

Howard Smith, from KPMG, said: "It is with regret that I must confirm this business is unable to continue trading, meaning the majority of its employees have been made redundant.

"KPMG's HR advisers will be on site this week, helping BVC staff to complete the necessary paperwork to secure redundancy payments from the DTI hardship fund."