A LONG-standing Rossendale car firm has gone into administration, threatening all the jobs at the dealership.

Car dealer Richard Cort called in the receivers after his two garages in Bury and Waterfoot were hit with a cash flow pressures and problems caused by the demise of Rover a year ago.

Administrators from Begbies Traynor have been called in and are seeking to sell the business as well as trying to save 44 jobs at the two sites in Rossendale and Bury.

Sarah Bell of Begbies Traynor said it was likely the Rossendale site would close.

But she said there was a glimmer of hope for the Bury business, which ran a Fiat dealership alongside a used car operation.

She added: "We are having a good look at Bury and there may be something we can salvage."

Administrator Andrew Dick told how the business had been hit by cash flow pressures and slow payment by manufacturers.

He said these factors, along with the collapse of MG Rover a year ago, caused the firm's failure.

Mr Dick added: It's always a great shame when a business fails, especially when supported by the director.

"After lengthy discussions, it was agreed that the company was not financially viable and the solution was to place it in administration."

Mr Cort, who was national chairman of the MG Rover Dealer Council, has downsized his business since the demise of Rover.

He earlier also had dealerships in Oldham and Stockport.

A fire in 1998 destroyed the Rossendale dealership, but the company rose from the ashes to trade at a new base in Bacup Road.