Around 35 staff are understood to have lost their jobs at the firm, which specialised in historic building refurbishment and restoration.

The company had previously worked on such high profile projects as the renovation of Piece Hall in Halifax and Salford Cathedral.

Managing director Richard Denneny set up the business 14 years ago, which traded as Stone Edge. The firm’s name was changed to Stone Edge Midlands last November.

Begbies Traynor (Central) in Preston is acting as administrators for the firm.

The administrators are assessing the work in progress and contracts of the business, in conjunction with an instructed quantity surveyor, in order to establish the recovery prospects for creditors.

Joint administrator Ian McCulloch, said: “Due to the specialist nature of its work and the high skill level of the employee base, Stone Edge Midlands had a significant fixed costs base and as a result was unable to recover from a reduction in trade during 2019.”

An associated company, Stone Edge North, which operates from premises in Lancashire, is continuing to trade and remains unaffected by the administration of Stone Edge Midlands Limited.