Frank Galliers offices at Oxon Business Park, Oxon, Shrewsbury.

Fears were growing today for the future of one of Shropshire’s largest building firms, which has been in existence for almost half a century.

Officials at Shropshire Council said work had ground to a halt at the site of the £7 million Oswald Park leisure development in Oswestry being carried out by Shrewsbury-based Frank Galliers Ltd. It has now made the site secure.

It comes amid rumours the developer has gone into administration.

The offices of the company at Oxon Business Park were locked up yesterday and remained locked today with no cars in the car park and the site in darkness.

Nobody from the firm, which employs 138 people, has been available to comment.

Laura Rowley, director of resources at the council, said officials had been informed by bosses working at the Oswald Park site that Frank Galliers had ceased trading.

She said: “We have been told by management staff on site that Frank Galliers has gone into administration, although we have not had any official notification from the company.

“Work is currently halted and the site has been made secure while the council reviews the situation and its options.”

Mrs Rowley said the council was committed to completing its projects and was taking “necessary steps” to ensure that happened.

Frank Galliers has also been working on the £600,000 refurbishment of Market Drayton Market Hall after it was appointed by Shropshire Council to handle the work, and on the £1.3 million redevelopment of Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital.

Julie Thornby, director of public affairs at Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, said: “We have not received any official notification of issues with the contractor for the redevelopment of Bishop’s Castle hospital, but the majority of the scheme has already been carried out and we are committed to making sure the whole project is completed successfully.”

Shropshire Councillor Jon Tandy said: “News is breaking that Galliers building contractors are going in to receivership. This is bad news for Shropshire as Galliers has been a long-standing and successful business in our area and this news will be of serious concern to many who work in the construction industry.”

By Russell Roberts and Dave Morris