THE DIRECTOR of a TV and hi-fi business has defended his actions after closing the business without warning last week.

Customers who have spent thousands of pounds on electrical equipment have been left in the dark as paid-for items have not been delivered, and they have been unable to contact Sound and Vision.

The business, which has a shop in Farnworth, a Leeds office and a website serving customers across the UK, folded in 2010 before being re-bought and reopened by its current owners, using a new company called Elitemark Ltd.

Director Neil Ball yesterday defended his actions and said the company had been responsible by closing its doors while they tried to save the business.

“We are working towards trying to find a solution to try and save the business and the jobs.

“We are acting in a responsible way, it wouldn’t have been responsible to carry on as we were.

“We could have carried on taking orders from people but we stopped it.

“What we have done at this moment in time is proper and responsible because we are in a state of limbo,” he said.

But customers who have been waiting for items to be delivered have been left frustrated by the lack of information.

One man, who paid for a £650 TV last week, said there was no answer at the store and nothing on the business website to say there were any problems.

The man, who does not want to be named, said: “It’s like they have just jumped ship.”

David Westhead, whose elderly father is waiting for a £3,000 TV to be delivered, has also been trying to contact the company.

The 52-year-old said: “My dad, John, is 80 and lives near Warrington.

He’s been trying to call Sound and Vision. He went to buy a TV last week and it was supposed to be delivered to him. He’s been ringing them all day but nobody has answered.”

Craig Durham, aged 38, of Clyde’s Barbers which is next to Sound and Vision in Market Street, Farnworth, said: “We noticed the shutters were down and people from other shops have been coming in here to ask what’s going on.”