AROUND 200 workers in Brierley Hill are among more than 2,000 staff made redundant after Tuffnells Parcels Express fell into administration.

The firm, which delivers large and bulky goods to businesses across the UK including retailers Wickes and Evans Cycles, appointed joint administrators at Interpath Advisory on Monday June 12 after failing to secure funding in recent weeks.

Delivery drivers and office staff at the Tuffnells base on the Wallows Industrial Estate in Brierley Hill are among those who have lost their jobs.

Driver Dave Mundon, who is among those made redundant, said some of those affected have worked for the company for 35 to 40 years.

He added: “I myself have worked there on and off for 25 years, it has truly hit some of us bad.”

But he said local recruitment companies have “been amazing” trying to help workers find new jobs and added that former employees “have all come together on a WhatsApp group to help support all and help with CVs, recommendations and even lifts”.

Just 128 staff out of the company’s 2,200 employees, working across its 33 UK depots, have been retained, Interpath said.

Around 500 contractors nationwide are also reportedly affected by the news.

Richard Harrison, the managing director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator with Howard Smith, said: "Unfortunately, the highly competitive nature of the UK parcel delivery market, coupled with significant inflation across the company's fixed cost base in recent times, has resulted in the company experiencing intense pressure on cashflow.

"Regrettably, with deliveries suspended and with no prospect of them resuming in the immediate term, we have had to make the majority of staff redundant.

"Our utmost priority will be to provide all those impacted with every support they need in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office and minimising disruption to customers."