A STONE merchant has closed after orders dried up.

Nelson-based Acorn Stone Merchants has laid off all 10 staff after bosses put it into voluntary liquidation.

Now experts from Manchester-based chartered accountancy firm CLB Coopers are picking through the company’s assets in the hope of raising about £400,000.

Among those up for grabs are a freehold site including a showroom and a workshop on the Lomeshaye industrial estate.

CLB Coopers is also marketing a leasehold showroom nearby, cutting equipment, vehicles and stock of stone.

Joint liquidator Diane Hill said: “The company was liquidated because of the impact of the downturn.

“The company sold bespoke stone products and fireplaces but it had no orders going forward.

“However, there has been quite a lot of interest from people in the sector and hopefully we can secure some buyers.”

Liquidators will on Monday ((9)) show potential buyers around the site.

Mrs Hill said Acorn’s bank would be reimbursed in full and there ‘may be’ some cash left to distribute to trade creditors.

Acorn, which had sales last year of £700,000, was founded in 1990 and made high-end stone-based products.

Earlier this year, it provided a fireplace for the Oyster and Otter, a new gastro pub in Feniscowles, Blackburn.

No one from Acorn was available for comment.

However, a post on the firm’s Facebook page said: “Very sad day... Acorn Stone Merchants closed its doors for the last time after 21 years.

“We are not the first to go and we certainly will not be the last in this very difficult climate.”