A SOLICITOR today claimed that scores of East Lancashire claimants could be left in limbo following the collapse of the Accident Group -- the UK's biggest "no win no fee" claims company.

The Manchester-based company, which canvassed for business in town centres across East Lancashire, called in administrators yesterday and sent texts to 2,500 staff telling them the news.

The parent company, the Amulet Group, has also ceased trading following the announcement that it will also go into administration.

Mike Corrigan, of Farleys Solicitors in Blackburn, said customers face delays in the processing of their claims as administrators try to pick up the pieces of the crashed company.

He added: "While I feel desperately sorry for the people who will be affected by this collapse I must say that it will make a nice change to be able to walk through the town centre without being accosted by people asking if you have had an accident in the past three years."

The firm offered no win, no fee claims facilities for people who had suffered injury.

They had a stand in Blackburn Shopping Centre. It was unmanned yesterday, with just an internet newsprint out hanging from the company's stand explaining what had happened.

Firms like the Accident Group have been blamed for the rocketing number of trips and slips claims against local councils.

The job losses came in the wake of personal injuries specialist Claims Direct going into receivership last year with millions of pounds of debt.

The move left 140 jobs hanging in the balance.