Since its formation in 1979, the family controlled contractor worked across Wales and bordering English counties on projects ranging up to £2.5m, often for Welsh Water and Severn Trent.

Joint administrator Kerry Bailey, a partner in PKF’s corporate recovery team, said J U Bowen had ceased to trade and made all its 30 staff redundant before administrators were appointed.

“The business was forced to close because it had recently completed a major housing contract and couldn’t find enough new work elsewhere to keep going,” said Ms Bailey.

The work the company performed for Environment Agency Wales also stopped over the winter period, as in previous years, she added.

“The directors recognised that the company could not fund trade through the winter and had to make the difficult decision to close down and make all staff redundant.

“As administrators, we are now making every effort to recover the company’s debts and equipment, and to assess development opportunities on the land that it owns,” Ms Bailey added.

The Newtown contractor was one of only a handful of home-grown Welsh contractors left as members of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.