A family-owned Norfolk builders' merchants has gone into administration with 32 people made redundant.

Halls Group Limited, which had two sites in Gorleston as well as ones in Acle and Scratby, was put into administration today.

Administrators are looking for someone to buy the business, but until this happens they have had to make the existing staff redundant.

Halls has been trading for almost 70 years, specialising in building and DIY products. Earlier this month, two divisions of the company, Yarco Fencing and Precast Concrete, were sold to Yarecrete Concrete Products Limited saving 13 jobs.

The directors were also seeking a buyer for the builders' merchants and this is continuing.

However, a winding up petition was filed by a creditor meaning that the company's funders were forced to step in and file a notice of intention to appoint administrators, while directors looked to negotiate the potential sale of the business.

Nigel Millar and Graham Bushby, partners at Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP, were appointed as joint administrators.

Mr Millar said: 'Like many in the building sector, Halls Group Limited has experienced difficult trading conditions since the downturn in the house building sector from 2008.

'Due to lack of funding the business has ceased trading and all the staff have regrettably been made redundant. However, there are a number of potential purchasers and we are hoping that we may be able to secure a sale of the business and assets in due course.'

Any party interested in the business are asked to contact nigel.millar@bakertilly.co.uk or rrbse@bakertilly.co.uk