A total of 75 staff from Suffolk-based logistics company Magnus Group are facing an anxious Christmas after losing their jobs as the firm went into administration.

Administrators who have taken over the company have made 52 drivers redundant and 23 other staff based at the company's Great Blakenham headquarters.

However, 25 jobs have been saved after the warehousing side of the business was sold to local company Hemisphere Freight Services.

Administrators Larking Gowen were appointed to take over the company last week after it initially published an administration notice on November 10.

All staff who have been made redundant have received a letter with details about how to access the redundancy service, and a number to call in case of queries.

While it will be an unsettling time at Christmas, some should be able to take heart from the fact that there remains a shortage of drivers in the road haulage industry.

Andrew Kelsall of Larking Gowen, said he was pleased that a local buyer had been found, and that Magnus' warehousing staff were able to continue working with the new owners.

He said: "This is a time when voluntary liquidations across the UK are at an all-time high.

"Logistics is a highly competitive sector and, unfortunately, Magnus had got into difficulties, including some debt which it has been unable to refinance. They had little option but to seek administration."

Hemisphere Managing Director Andy Perrin said: “It’s always hard to see a fellow family-run business go into administration, especially after decades of successful trading and becoming so well-respected within the local community."

He said his company's thoughts went out to everyone affected at what must be an incredibly difficult time.

The Magnus Group was founded in 1973 by Paul Magnus who remained at the helm until his death in 2018 when his son Olly took over.

During the last few years the company continued to expand and it also took an active role in community-focussed projects.

The expansion led to Olly Magnus being named director of the year in the Suffolk Business Awards at the end of last year.

And on the community side, Mr Magnus devoted time to fund-raising and also raised the company's profile through the sponsorship of Ipswich Town's West Stand.