EIGHTEEN people have lost their jobs in East Lancashire at the beleaguered butchery chain Crawshaw.

Nine workers apiece have been made redundant after it was confirmed that their stores in Blackburn and Burnley were among the 35 to be axed.

Independent butchers locally say the development - while disappointing for all those concerned - should not affect their trade either way.

Malcolm Marsden, of Whittaker’s Butchers on Blackburn Market, said: “It is a shame and it will be a loss to people in Blackburn for those who shopped for that kind of thing.”

“But our trade is slightly different - we go for everything being sourced locally and fresh produce.

“We didn’t really notice any drop in trade when they set up and I don’t think we’ll see anything now.

“Our customers have always been loyal. We’ve been on the market since 1916 and know what we provide.

“You knew something was going wrong for Crawshaw when their share price fell from 80 pence to just two pence.”

Other butchers have reported seeing a slight increase in custom since the demise of Crawshaw.

Crawshaw has been in trouble since administrators EY were called in last Wednesday.

Three hundred and fifty staff have been sacked with the closure of 35 shops and one distribution centre.

It is hoped that a rescue deal for the Rotherham-based chain will save a further 261 positions.

The collapse of the company, which saw a period of rapid expansion, came after several years of financial losses.

Their store in Railway Road, Blackburn, opened in February 2016 after a £250,000 investment.

This was followed by their second East Lancashire opening, in St James Street, Burnley, the following July.

According to the group’s latest set of results though, for the six months to July 29, the group posted revenue of £21.6 million and a pre-tax loss of £1.7 million.

Shares in the AIM-listed company were suspended last week as it issued a notice of its intention to appoint administrators.

Food mogul Ranjit Boparan has a near 30 per cent stake in the business and his 2 Sisters Food Group also supplies Crawshaw.