NEARLY 250 workers from a 150-year-old construction firm have been made redundant.

The Echo reported yesterday construction, joinery, renovation and repair work specialists Killby and Gayford, which has a branch in Radford Way, Billericay, had been placed into administration.

Private firm BDO was appointed the official administrator, and it confirmed yesterday the company had stopped trading.

A spokesman for BDO said: “Unfortunately the economic climate and difficult trading conditions significantly affected the business.

“The administrators are taking all necessary steps to mitigate losses and, going forward, will seek to maximise recoveries for the benefit of all creditors.”

Killby and Gayford also had offices in offices in London, Cambridge and Leeds.

The Billericay branch was the company’s specialist joinery division, focusing on the design and manufacture aspects of building projects.

Companies House, which registers businesses, showed Killby and Gayford faced ten attempts by businesses to get it wound up in the past year, as they claimed they were owed money.

The BDO spokesman added: “The company has ceased to trade immediately and regrettably the majority of the 255 employees have been made redundant.

“The administrators are in the process of seeking a buyer or buyers for the assets of the company.”

No-one from Killby and Gayford was available for comment yesterday.