ABOUT 25 jobs could be at risk after a Hull recovery business closed. Willingham's Recovery Limited in Haller Street, east Hull, was established more than 50 years ago, but the future of the firm is uncertain.
Staff were reportedly called into a meeting last Wednesday and told they were being made redundant with immediate effect. However, Driffield administrator Redman Nichols Butler has since denied the company has fallen into administration.
Nichols Butler, a spokesman for Redman, said: "Willingham's Recovery Limited is not in administration. That's all I can tell you."
The gates remained locked at the Haller Street site yesterday though, casting further doubt over the firm's position. One staff member, who asked not to be named, told the Mail: "We were all called into a meeting at 11am. We were told the company was closing. It is a real shame.
"Some of the people have been there for years, so it is quite sad, although I reckon some of them saw it coming."
The worker said the staff had been told at the meeting they would have to apply to the Government for statutory redundancy pay.
He said: "They gave us all a form so we could apply to the Government for redundancy pay. From what I understand, another company was lined up to buy it, but it didn't go ahead. I hope somebody does take it over as it had some decent contracts with big companies."
The company, which is located a few hundred yards from Hull Prison, provided recovery technicians and roadside mechanics to individual customers. It also had contracts with organisations including the AA and RAC. Last year, Willingham's launched a new 24-hour MoT Supercentre.
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