I am sure that like me, readers will be shocked but perhaps not surprised at reports that Asons potentially owes £25million to unsecured creditors.

This includes £1.4 million in tax including, no doubt, income tax deducted from employees or paid by clients in VAT.

What is most shocking is that Labour councillors claimed they had carried out proper due diligence before they agreed to give Asons £300,000 of council taxpayers' money.

While Labour might claim the money was repaid, that is not the point.

Labour councillors, in a decision made behind closed doors, gave a grant to a company on the point of administration with debts on a huge scale.

If, as Labour claims, proper due diligence was carried out, how was the scale of Asons debts not uncovered?

Equally, as the sale of Asons to Coops Law is also being probed by the joint liquidators as not taking place “for full value” and could be an “associated party transaction”.

That in itself is shocking.

It is clear that the sorry saga of this grant agreed by Labour councillors alone is not yet over and will bring further shame on their actions.

It can only be hoped that in future the council will conduct proper due diligence and be more open in its conduct in such matters.

Cllr John Walsh

Astley Bridge Ward