TROUBLED furniture and fabrics group Cornwell Parker has ditched its chief executive James Moore after a dramatic plunge in profits and sales.

Chairman Barry Bramley said Mr Moore was "asked to leave" by the board before members voted to appoint chartered accountant Robert Alcock as the company's new deputy chairman and chief executive. Mr Moore was the first chief executive to be appointed from outside the founding Parker family and was hired in 1995 to help turnaround the struggling group which has its main distribution centre in Burnley

But the company has continued to see sales slip, with trading particularly difficult during the last year.

Profits before tax and exceptional items dropped to £4 million in the 12 months to July 31 compared to £9 million at the same time last year.

Total group turnover plunged from £92 million to £79.6 million, following a 14 per cent fall in fabric sales and 12.5 per cent drop in furniture sales.

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