WOLLASTON Bakery has closed its two stores in Stourbridge and Wollaston after the business ceased trading.

Signs have been put up in the shop windows and shutters have been drawn on the stores, which were previously owned by baking firm Firkins.

The closure affects a number of bakeries across the Black Country and will result in 104 staff members losing their jobs.

BRI, a Northampton-based business recovery and insolvency firm, is now in charge of the situation.

A statement from BRI, which was released following the closure, said: “Following difficult trading periods on the high street, Newbridge Bakery (Retail) Ltd & Newbridge Bakery (Birmingham Retail) Ltd have announced that their shops trading as Firkins and Wollaston Bakery have closed and will cease to trade.

“Unfortunately, despite efforts to improve shop profitability at Newbridge Bakery (Retail) Ltd & Newbridge Bakery (Birmingham Retail) Ltd, and because of the lack of new sales the Directors have taken steps to place the company in to a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation, which will result in the loss of 104 full and part time jobs.

“Newbridge Bakery (Retail) Ltd & Newbridge Bakery (Birmingham Retail) Ltd were transferred into new ownership back in April 2014 and were a local supplier in Birmingham of Bakery and Confectionary goods.

“The closure will not affect other Group companies including Oliver Adams Ltd based in Northampton.”

The bakery has been trading under the Firkins name for 145 years but has been in and out of administration three times in the last 10 years.

Wollaston Councillor Nic Barlow expressed his sadness at the popular bakery closing its doors. He said: “It is very sad to see the business go into insolvency and a shame to see the bakeries in both Wollaston village and Stourbridge closing.

“We have had a bakery in Wollaston for as long as I can remember and I just hope someone can now take it on, but it won’t be an easy task.

“It would be an ideal opportunity for those who have inherited the business to offer it to someone who could carry it forward as a bakery.

“There are other bakeries in the town centre, such as Greggs, which do very well and I know the shop in Wollaston was always busy so there is a need for ‘proper’ bread.

“It would be nice to get a proper bakery back into Wollaston village as well as Stourbridge High Street, but at the moment is just sad to see a successful business closing.”