A PHOTOGRAPHY business has stepped in to offer a flash of hope for disappointed customers of a company which has gone into administration.Stour Valley Photography has said it will accept outstanding Olan Mills vouchers - up to the value of £50 - from people who have purchased sessions from the company's Colchester or Ipswich studios.

A PHOTOGRAPHY business has stepped in to offer a flash of hope for disappointed customers of a company which has gone into administration.

Stour Valley Photography has said it will accept outstanding Olan Mills vouchers - up to the value of £50 - from people who have purchased sessions from the company's Colchester or Ipswich studios.

It comes after it emerged that Olan Mills, a national chain of portrait photographers, has ceased trading.

Statements from KPMG administrators, appointed on December 14, make it clear any outstanding vouchers for photographic sessions are no longer valid and they do not anticipate funds being made available for any refunds.

For Olan Mills customers who have purchased photographic sessions, many for Christmas presents, this means their vouchers are now worthless and they are very unlikely to receive any money back.

Stour Valley Photography, based near Colchester, is now hoping it can help out those customers.

David Gynn, company director, said: “If any customers of Olan Mills who have paid for a photographic session would be interested in using the services offered by Stour Valley Photography, we would be happy to accept their outstanding vouchers for the Olan Mills session, to a maximum of £50, in part-payment for our services - effectively refunding the value of the voucher, meaning that the customer will not lose out.

“For example, if an Olan Mills customer has purchased a voucher for a session valued at £45 we would accept that voucher - with proof of purchase - in part-payment for our services.”

The company said research indicates the maximum cost of a photographic session at Olan Mills was £45.

A statement from the KPMG administrators, Richard Philpott and Myles Halley, on Olan Mills' website, says: “Following an initial review of the business and its finances, the administrators regret to inform you that the companies (Olan Mills Holdings Ltd and Olan Mills Ltd) are unfortunately no longer able to continue trading.

“All stores have now closed and we are unable to fulfil any outstanding orders or appointments.

“The administrators are also unable to make any refunds of monies paid.”

Stour Valley Photography said the offer of part-payment was limited to its standard range of services, details of which can be found at www.stourvalleyphotography.com.

rebecca.sheppard@eadt.co.uk