Washington Web has been placed in the hands of the official receivers.


The move came after a winding-up order was issued against the firm in the High Court in London on 24 January by paper merchant Capital Paper (PrintWeek, 12 January).


Capital Paper had previously issued a winding-up order on Mayfair Printing, where Washington Web managing director Paul Hutchinson was formerly chief executive.


A spokeswoman for the receiver said that the Newcastle Insolvency Office, which is handling the case, was looking at the debt, liabilities and assets of the company.


"Its too early to say how much the debts are, but a date for a creditors meeting will be fixed soon," said the spokeswoman.


Washington Web ceased trading on 4 January, and the company had applied for a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) to wind itself up, but events with the winding-up order overtook the work on the CVA.


Washington Web subsequently cancelled a meeting of creditors which was originally planned for 25 January.


The Wearside printing company made 60 staff redundant just prior to Christmas, and also lost a 164,000 Department of Trade & Industry grant only a few weeks after it was awarded.
No one from Capital Paper was available for comment as PrintWeek went to press.


Story by Andy Scott