A MEAT company has been ordered to pay out £45,000 to former employees after a popular butchers closed suddenly.

Byfords, the much-loved high street butchers in Rayleigh High Street, closed suddenly after more than 30 years of trade in June last year.

The butchers had been a mainstay in the High Street for decades, selling a wide range of meats as well as its famous pies.

Three members of the same family - Mr and Mrs Bush and Mrs Bush’s sister, Miss Eve - all lost their jobs when the shop closed and made claims against the company.

The shop was formerly owned by Rayleigh-based business Byfords Traditional Fresh Foods.

However, it was sold to M&T Meats - a Canvey firm - about ten years ago.

At a tribunal held in London, a judge determined the employees had been made redundant and also that unauthorised deductions had been taken from their salaries.

The written judgment stated: “Their employment ended suddenly on June 28, 2018, when the shop closed.

“In these circumstances, I am satisfied that they were each dismissed by reason of redundancy.

“The respondent failed to pay the claimants a statutory redundancy payment or notice pay upon dismissal.”

It added: “In the cases of Mr and Mrs Bush, the company also failed to pay their last month’s salary.

“In Miss Eves’ case, she received her salary for June but was owed outstanding holiday pay at the time of her dismissal.”

The judge also ordered an additional two weeks’ pay to each former employee because the company failed to issue them with a contract when they took over the shop.

Mrs Bush, who is 53 and had worked at the shop for more than 20 years, received a total judgment of £13,300 including a £7,800 redundancy payment.

Mr Bush, who is 58 and had worked at the shop for more than 18 years, received a total judgement of £16,698.63.

This included a redundancy payment of £9,870.19 and £4,469.52 in damages for breach of contract.

Miss Eves, who is 47 and worked for the shop for more than 20 years, was awarded a judgement £15,693.71.

This included a £9,081 redundancy payment and £1,084 in holiday pay.