The firm, established in 1867, was placed in administration last week with the loss of 12 jobs.

But the former management team has bought the maintenance division of the collapsed building services contractor to save part of the £3m turnover business and save around half the firm’s workforce.

This will trade as Longworth and Sons while the new project contracting arm is wound up.

A Longworth & Sons worked across the North West and Manchester taking on jobs worth up to a £1m in the retail, health and school building sectors.

But in July it was hit by a bad debt of £143,000 and a dwindling new order book which impacted on cash flow.