THE administrators of the company behind north Essex art foundry business Morris Singer say that no sale of the business or its assets has yet been completed.

Last week, sculptor Nasser Azam, who has had work of his own cast at the long-established Braintree firm, said he was setting up a new company, Zahra Modern Art Foundries, to continue its traditions.

However, joint administrators Matt Bond and Jason Godefroy of insolvency specialists MCR, said no deal for the company or its assets had been agreed.

Mr Bond, a partner at MCR, said: “Neither Nasser Azam nor Zahra Modern Art Foundries has acquired any part of Art Founders Limited trading as Morris Singer.

“Mr Azam did make an offer for the Company’s business and assets but this was deemed unsuitable and not accepted.

“He has subsequently started his own business while we are still looking to dispose of the company’s assets including the trade name Morris Singer, for which offers are invited.”

The history of Morris Singer dates back more than 150 years during which it has produced some of the UK’s best-known cast metal sculptures, including two of the lions in Trafalgar Square, the figure of Justice which sits on top of the Old Bailey and the statue of Boadicea (Boudica) outside the Houses of Parliament.

Morris Singer employed a workforce of 15 on the Springwood Industrial Estate in Braintree.

Mr Azam said Zahra Modern Art Foundries planned to re-employ most of the skilled craftsman and would be looking to “add significantly to the talent as it expands into new services and markets”. “It is my wish both to preserve the skills and knowledge that have been built up since the 19th Century,” he added.