AN engineering firm has been sold at the same time as another run by the same businessman crashed into receivership.

Machine Fabricators of Clayton-le-Moors has been acquired by a Scottish firm for a "substantial six figure sum".

The announcement came after weeks of speculation about the future of the company.

But another company run by entrepreneur Mark Clarkson, of Wiswell, has gone into receivership with the loss of 50 jobs.

Workers at printers Lords of Burnley who had not been paid for three weeks were given the news as bank creditors moved in to seize machinery at the Trafalgar Mill works yesterday.

Print union, GPA forced the move in a bid to prevent staff, already owed around £30,000, from losing even more money as promises of wages and an eleventh-hour buy out of the firm again failed to materialise. Receivers Latham, Crossley and Davis of Manchester told employees they would be made redundant with immediate effect when they took control of the works at noon.

Union full time branch secretary for North Lancashire, Terry Thompson, said there was no hope of saving the firm.

"What is upsetting people most is that if they had gone into voluntary receivership three weeks ago, Lord's could have been sold as a going concern.

"Now things have gone too far.

He said Mark Clarkson, managing director of Lord's parent group, UK Print, had neither been seen, nor had he delivered on his many promises of finding a buyer.

Mr Clarkson was not available for comment at his Accrington business base, although an associate said he was likely to make a statement on the Lord's situation on Monday.

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