A spokeswoman for KPMG said the administrators were continuing to trade the business while seeking a sale.

KPMG also confirmed to PrintWeek that trade creditors of the group were owed in excess of £6m, and that it was too early to say whether there would be a return to unsecured creditors.

Pindar Preston runs a battery of B1 presses including two Heidelberg Speedmaster long perfectors: a 10-colour and a 12-colour both with CutStar reel sheeters. It also has a six-colour XL105 cover press with a double-coater.

The firm produces a variety of work including magazine and catalogue covers.

Mark Firmin, Brian Green and Howard Smith were appointed joint administrators of GA Pindar & Son on Tuesday (26 July).

The Scarborough web offset business was immediately sold to York Mailing.

The other group businesses, including Preston, a confidential print operation in Scarborough, the Aylesbury cartography operation, and Pindar's Agility software business, remain up for sale.

The Pindar pension scheme, which had a deficit of £19.5m according to recent statements, is also an unsecured creditor. The Pension Protection Fund has been notified of the company's administration.