Supplies firm falls victim to crunch

A Shropshire builder's merchants, which has served the county for nearly 80 years, has closed just a week before Christmas.

A Bertram Edwards, based in Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, was first established in 1919 and supplied building materials and timber.

A sign on the closed gates says: "Closed. As from midday Thursday December 18 A Bertram Edwards Ltd ceased trading."

The company is now in the hands of liquidators.

The main headquarters was formerly in Abbey Foregate on the site previously occupied by the Shrewsbury Quest visitor centre.

In 1989 A Bertram Edwards moved to the former British Railway Yard in Old Coleham.

Nobody from the company was available for comment today.

Meanwhile, some 60 workers at a Bridgnorth shower manufacturers have had their hours slashed to a three-and-a-half day week in the new year.

Production staff in the factory at Coram Showers, which is based on the Stanmore Industrial Estate, will only be working from Tuesdays to Friday afternoons from January 6.

The company, which employs more than 100 people, sells a large proportion of its showers direct to the housing industry which has been badly hit by the recession.

Managing director Peter Dimeloe said: "We have initially agreed a period of two months but we will review it in the new year."