HOPES are high that a buyer can be found for struggling Bolton travel firm AFB Travel and Leisure Ltd.

As reported in yesterday's BEN, the receivers have been called in to try and save the company based in Manchester Road, Kearsley, which for the past couple of months has been struggling with a cash flow problem.

AFB, which employs about 75 people, was originally Sunset International, a distinct business associated with the Sunset Holidays company based on the same site.

A spokesman for the receivers said: "AFB has been incurring losses for some months and was unable to meet an up coming bank payment. "Management approached the bank for additional facilities which the bank refused."

"From what I can gather the bank was not prepared to support the company during a lean period over the winter."

He added: "The administrators are very hopeful of finding a buyer very quickly."

It is understood that up to five parties have shown an interest in the company which was a leading light in the flight consolidation business - companies which sell scheduled airline seats to travel agents.

Until recently the company's future looked rosy. It was selling up to 4,000 airline tickets a week and had diversified away from its core business with its specialist sports and business travel divisions. And 12 months ago the company led a successful campaign to clean up the business by getting rid of bucket shops with the formation of the Association of Airline Consolidators.

One of AFB's owners, David Mortimer, is the chairman of the association.

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