A PENDLE firm could be on the brink of collapse after filing an intention to appoint administrators.

Bosses at Macgregor Europe, based on the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate in Nelson, are in talks with Bury-based restructuring experts Leonard Curtis.

It is understood that many of the 25 staff at the haulage firm, including managing director Fraser Durris, have already left the company.

Meanwhile, owner Peter Macgregor was yesterday said to be at nearby RePack Warehouse, which is also based at Lomeshaye.

James Hall, from Leonard Curtis, confirmed Macgregor had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators with a court.

If the company collapses, Leonard Curtis will act as administrator, he added.

A Macgregor employee, who asked not to be named, said: “We were told three weeks ago that the company was about to go into administration, then it did not go into administration.”

Many of the staff had since been laid off, she added.

In 2008, Macgregor bosses said up to 20 jobs could be created by its move from sites in Barrowford and Altham to Lomeshaye.

However, Mr Durris conceded at the time that rising fuel prices were having a “massive effect” on the firm.

Yesterday, Mr Macgregor was said to be unavailable for comment.