ANOTHER well-established store in Blackburn has been forced to call in the liquidators.

East Lancs Tile Centre, located on Bolton Road, called in administrators recently, amid trading difficulties and increased competition in the market.

UPDATE: Fresh start for tile centre in Blackburn is confirmed

And it has now been confirmed that the outfit, which had been in the business for more than 40 years, has called it quits.

Administrators Manubhai and Hemal Mistry, of Bury-based Horsfields, in a report on East Lancs Tile Centre (Blackburn), their latest trading vehicle, have estimated their overall deficiency as £380,382.

One of their largest debts was to Quodlibet and Colin Edmundson, of Buncer Lane, a former director of East Lancashire Tile Centre Ltd.

Another listed Quodlibet director, Mavis Edmundson, of Gorse Road, was said to be owed £13,500.

While £1,575 in holiday pay and wage arrears were covered, for company employees, by recoverable assets, a further £82,426 is said to be outstanding.

One of the directors, John Jump, of Earnsdale Road, Darwen, also had £38,138 outstanding from a directors loan account.

Several other debts, ranging from just over £500 to £4,200, were owed to a number of fellow tile companies around the UK.

No determination could be made over any funds outstanding to HM Revenue and Customs.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for regeneration and growth, said: “It is always disappointing when a firm which has traded in Blackburn for a number of years goes into administration.

“There is a lot of competition in Blackburn for tiling and sadly there are always going to be winners and losers in retail.”

Earlier this year Blackburn Tile Centre, based at the corner of Higher Eanam and Higher Audley Street, announced plans to relocate.

Bosses at the firm, which also has a sister site in Burnley, were looking to expand into the former Blackburn Motor Park premises in Pendle Street, with hopes on taking on around 20 more staff.

The town is also home to Al-Murad Tiles, also on Bolton Road, a branch of Topps tiles in Grimshaw Park and a B&Q superstore at Nova Scotia retail park. This year already curtain makers Ryley and Hampson and steel stockholders Mercers have called it a day in Blackburn.

UPDATE: Fresh start for tile centre in Blackburn is confirmed