RECEIVERS brought in at troubled Darwen wallpaper manufacturers Zen Wallcoverings have made 24 people redundant.

The Cross Street firm drafted in Manchester-based accountants Grant Thornton about three weeks ago in a bid to deal with their financial crisis.

The wallcovering business has lost about 65 staff in the last four years but Grant Thornton today promised they would continue to attempt to sell the company as a going concern.

Receiver Les Ross confirmed negotiations were taking place over the sale of the company which now employs around 75 people -- compared to 140 in 1997.

"It is very regrettable when you have to make redundancies," he said.

"These are the first changes we have made in the receivership period and it is not always possible to run things as they are.

"We have been trading in receivership for four weeks now and these are the first redundancies we have made. I would argue that we have preserved 75 jobs.

"We have got to make it work financially and sometimes these things are inevitable. We are still trying to sell the business as a going concern."

Mr Ross said the redundancies had been made across the company, but had primarily affected the production staff.

One of the workers made redundant at Zen Wallcoverings, who asked not to be named, said the workforce had been shocked by the announcement of job cuts on the eve of Darwen's holiday fortnight.

"I am one of the 24 people out of a job," he said. " More people will probably be made redundant next week."

Mr Ross, however, denied additional jobs were on the line. "I am the person who makes that decision, " he said.

"There has been no decision on any further redundancies."