A RECYCLING centre has gone into liquidation resulting in the loss of 35 jobs.

S C Chadwick & Sons Ltd in Breightmet, which has been in operation for more than 70 years, confirmed the business had closed as of Wednesday.

It was revealed in February that the Oakenbottom Road site had been served with a suspension notice by The Environment Agency, which prevented the company bringing in any more waste as it had reached its limit.

A spokesman for Chadwicks in Bolton said: "We went in to liquidation yesterday and will not be re-opening."

Meanwhile a spokesperson at the Leigh site in Manchester Road confirmed that 35 jobs had been lost in total over the two sites but said "all had found alternative jobs".

An Environment Agency spokesperson, said: "The Environment Agency took regulatory action on both sites due to non compliance with their environmental permits and the risk of pollution. Unfortunately we have now been informed S C Chadwick and Sons Ltd has gone into liquidation and has stopped trading. We are currently considering the implications of the company going into liquidation."

Earlier this week a petition was launched by UKIP ward representative for Tonge with The Haulgh Derek Fisher.

The petition has called for Bolton Council to use some of their "£109 million reserves" to clear the site and also ensure that the site's waste permit will not be renewed.

Breightmet Labour Councillor John Byrne said: "I am pleased the site has closed as I am sure are residents.

"It has been a long hard fight and people have suffered because of it. Hopefully we can now get something better on the site. The closure of the site is the best thing for the residents and the environment."

Andy Smith, an Oakenbottom Road resident said: "I am not happy that people have lost their jobs but I am happy that it has closed. I just hope that someone sees the worth in the site and decides to do something else with it."