Oxfordshire merchant Southern Brick and Tile in administration

An Oxfordshire-based brick and tile merchant has shut one of its major branches and gone into administration.

Southern Brick and Tile Company shut its Slough branch before bringing in tax advisory group Vantis to handle its administration.

A Vantis spokesman said it was in discussion with prospective buyers to sell Southern Brick and Tile as a going concern and hoped to wrap up a deal within seven days.

“I think we can understand what happened, with the housing market going the way it is,” the spokesman said.

Around 25 staff are still working at the business, which is based in Abingdon.