Family-run Howard Richard Sales appoints liquidators after more than 40 years of trading.
Speaking to DIY Week this afternoon, director Howard Jones said he was "absolutely devastated" that the business, which was founded in 1967, had gone into liquidation.

He blamed the firm's demise on "a very hostile trading environment, which some people seem to be coping with more successfully than we could".

All employees have now been let go and Mr Jones is working with liquidators Elwell Watchhorn & Saxton LLP to clear the business' remaining stock.

In fact, since announcing the closure of the business, Mr Jones said he had been overwhelmed with requests from interested parties. "We have had an enormous amount of people ringing to buy the stock," he exclaimed.

In March last year, Howard Richard Sales revealed that it was relaunching Fuller Tools - a Canadian tool brand it had previously distributed in 1998 - back into the UK market.

Although he has no immediate plans as yet, Mr Jones, who ran the hand tool company with his brother Richard, told DIY Week that he doesn't intend to stay working in the DIY industry.

He added that anyone interested in acquiring some or all of the remaining Howard Richard Sales stock can contact the office on 01733 237 779.