FIFTY workers at an East Anglian caravan manufacturer have been made redundant following its collapse into administration.David Standish and Allan Graham from accountants KPMG, who were appointed joint administrators at Long Melford-based Fleetwood Caravans on Tuesday, confirmed last night that 50 people out of a total workforce of 63 had been made redundant.

FIFTY workers at an East Anglian caravan manufacturer have been made redundant following its collapse into administration.

David Standish and Allan Graham from accountants KPMG, who were appointed joint administrators at Long Melford-based Fleetwood Caravans on Tuesday, confirmed last night that 50 people out of a total workforce of 63 had been made redundant.

However, Mr Standish said that efforts to salvage the company as a going concern were continuing.

“Following careful consideration of all of the options available it became clear that Fleetwood Caravans Ltd had no alterative other than to be placed into administration,” he said.

“We have regrettably had to make a substantial number of staff redundant. However we are working closely with Government agencies to ensure the employees' issues are dealt with as quickly and expediently as possible.”

Mr Standish added: “Unfortunately the company has become yet another victim of the current economic downturn as discretionary spending, particularly on big ticket items, is either deferred or cancelled.

“That said, the Fleetwood brand name is strong in the marketplace and synonymous with the first class quality of the caravans produced at the Long Melford site. Accordingly, we are making every effort to sell the business as a going concern and would ask any interested parties to contact us.”

Fleetwood has a turnover of �7 million and manufactures and sells caravans via a network of dealers across the UK and Ireland.

The announcement redundancies brings the total number of jobs lost in the Sudbury area this week to more than 120, with the town's branch of Woolworth's having closed with the loss of 43 jobs and Marks & Spencer having announced plans to close its Simply Food store, where 29 people are currently employed.