AROUND 300 individuals and companies are owed money by an abattoir, pork butcher and meat product business which failed with estimated debts of around £1.5 million. The 75- year-old family business of Thornley & Son Ltd, based in Ridgewood Farm, Heath Charnock, Chorley, was placed into liquidation last week.

Creditors' claims are being assessed by insolvency specialists Mike Seery and Peter Terry from accountants KPMG in Preston.

Despite increasing estimated turnover to almost £10 million for the 12 months ended March 1995, the company ran into financial difficulties and later that year its directors sold a retail butchers shop in Bolton in order to concentrate on wholesales.

Administrative Receivers, who were called in to take over the running of the company last November, finally closed the slaughtering business in January after failing to find a buyer.

KPMG's Mike Seery said all creditors should send completed claim forms to the firm at Edward VII Quay, Navigation Way, Ashton on Ribble, Preston PR2 2YP.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.