THE largest dental laboratory in the UK has gone into administration with the loss of 120 jobs.

Workers at Acodent in Little Lever say they were called in on Wednesday and told they were being made redundant before being asked to leave the premises.

Leeds-based accountant Mazars has been appointed administrator.

One technician who has worked for the company, in Stopes Road, for more than 10 years said he “fuming” at the situation.

The worker, who asked not to be named, said: “At around 3pm were called into a meeting and asked to bring our personal belongings.

“We were all being made redundant and that was pretty much it. The meeting didn’t last longer than 10 minutes.

“We were then herded out like cattle and the gates were locked.

“There has been something going on for the last three months.

“We also haven’t been paid this month’s wage.

“We’ve not got any redundancy pay yet and we’re all jobless.”

Another employee told The Bolton News: “One minute we were working away, and the next they say we have 10 minutes to get our stuff and get out.”

The Acodent website boasts a distribution service which covers the UK and Ireland and the European Union. The firm also has an address in St Helier, Jersey.

The company is run by Peter Smith and his wife Aileen who is also a director.

Mrs Smith said: “We are in a situation where we are trying to recover what we can. We are in a very delicate negotiating situation.

“I was a director of the company up until yesterday. We’ve lost everything. We have been running this business for 25 years and it has taken everything we’ve got.

“Hopefully, we will know what’s happening by Monday. If the negotiations are successful it is going to be helpful to everyone, including the people who have lost their jobs.”