Telford pet shop shock as firm shuts on spot

Petstop, on Telford Forge Retail Park, closed at 1pm yesterday and staff were told they were being made redundant. Customers – some of who had taken their pets in for veterinary treatment and grooming – were forced to leave the store, while those who arrived for pre-booked appointments after the sudden closure were left locked out on the car park.

Manchester-based company Duff and Phelps has been called in and has confirmed the company has gone into administration.

It is not yet known how any jobs have been lost.

Hannah Rose, who worked in the dog grooming section of the store, said the store closed at 1pm and that she and her colleagues were told that they no longer had jobs.

Miss Rose, who is now going to start a business on her own, said: "At 1pm they closed the doors and told us we were being made redundant.

"They asked the public to leave and we were told we no longer had a job. They didn't kick us out, we could stay there as long as we wanted but I left quite quickly.

"There was no mention of anything like this before, it's come out of the blue. We were just told that we were out of a job, and someone came round and gave us redundancy sheets to fill in."

Steve Barry, from Duff and Phelps, said: "The company has gone into voluntary administration and we are acting as their administrators.

"The company was in financial difficulties and that is why the directors have took the company into administration."

Mr Barry confirmed the search had started for a buyer for the company but said it was proving a difficult process.

A sign stuck to the inside of the store advised anyone who needed veterinary care for their pets to contact Wrekin View Veterinary Practice on (01952) 223032.

One shopper, who did not want to be named, said: "There were a few customers standing outside trying to find out what was going on and people were coming out of the other shops and saying everyone had just left.

"There was one woman who had taken her dog because it had just had an operation and it needed some stitches taken out."