BOLTON firm Extruded Window Systems has gone into administration with the possible loss of more than 80 jobs.

Employees at EWS in Bridgeman Street were told last Tuesday that efforts to save the company had failed.

It has also emerged that Bolton Council attempted to help in an unsuccessful rescue bid.

EWS has a 35-year history planning, designing, fabricating and installing architectural aluminium systems, curtain walling and door systems.

The firm works on private and public sector developments, and recent project have included schools, colleges, apartments, hospitals, libraries, sports and leisure facilities, offices and retail outlets.

Four years ago EWS won a contract worth more than £1 million to replace the entire facade on the Loreto School in Manchester and boasted an annual turnover of £4 million. It is a sister company to River Street Glass (RSG).

A former EWS employee, who worked in a senior position and who did not wish to be named, said: “We were called together on Tuesday, February 11, and told the company was in trouble, but that they were trying to save the company.

"At a meeting a week later, we were informed those attempts had failed and that it had gone into administration.”

Company director Steve Callow refused to comment.

Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration Keith Davies said: “Bolton Council was alerted to the company’s situation and met with its four directors to understand their position and establish if there was anything that we or the Greater Manchester Growth Hub could do to help.

“The directors advised us that the situation had deteriorated to the extent where they had decided to put the company into administration.

"It’s disappointing that the company has not been able to resolve the critical issues it faces and all our efforts will now focus on helping those staff who are under threat of redundancy to search for alternative employment should that situation arise.”