Up to 140 staff at vehicle assembly business UV Modular at Armytage Road lost their jobs when the receivers were called in almost a fortnight ago. UV Modular, a subsidiary of AssetCo plc based in Middlesex, had seemed to be thriving but the administrators who were called in following a request from the directors said the firm's financial position meant closure was the only option.

The GMB union in Brighouse represents about 40 UV Modular workers.
Branch secretary Mr John Durkin said: "We would be seeking clarity over the state of the firm's order books. We were given to understand that the order books were healthy and we want to know what has happened."

Paul Rooney and Steve Ellis, partners in PricewaterhouseCoopers, have been appointed joint administrators. Mr Ellis said: "Our immediate priority will be to complete our examination of the financial position of the business and to identify those assets that can be disposed of for the benefit of creditors."

Within hours of the closure announcement, the factory doors were locked and the site is now closed. UV Modular was founded in 2002 from the ashes of the former company UVG which had gone into administration.