A CIVIL engineering firm has folded with the loss of 165 jobs amid questions about why bosses didn’t try to salvage it.

Westmode Ltd, based in Stratton St Margaret, ceased trading after operating across the south for 23 years.

The company shut down on February 20, five days before an administrator was officially appointed. The Adver reported the closure on February 25 but was told at the time that only 30 people would be made redundant.

The move was allegedly taken before all the options were explored with the financial experts called in.

Anthony Harris, director of Critchleys chartered accountants and business services, said: “Regretfully Westmode Ltd has gone into administration with the loss of 165 jobs.

“I am obviously working with the Redundancy Payment Service to get as much statutory pay to employees as possible over the next six weeks or so.

“All employees have been contacted and I aim to complete the process as quickly as possible.

“I will also realise the assets, establish who the creditors are and investigate how the company arrived at this situation.”

Westmode, which was based on the Swindon Road, operated across the region, including Wiltshire, Bristol, Oxford, Portsmouth and Southampton.

The firm had built up a good reputation, according to sources who spoke at the Adver at the time it collapsed.

Mr Harris said: “Looking at the company, I cannot yet see why it failed at the stage it did.

“The directors had ceased trading before I was appointed, and I was left with no option which would have allowed Westmode Ltd to carry on trading.

“I met with the directors on Monday February 20 and though I was willing to find ways to keep the business going in the meantime, it appears that the directors started closing down on the same day. I was not formally appointed as administrator until 3.39pm the following Friday."

Westmode, which was established in 1989, was an excavation and groundwork contractor.

A member of staff at the company’s HQ at the time it ceased trading refused to comment or to confirm who the administrator was. The administrator’s appointment was confirmed in the London Gazette on Friday.