BOSSES at a Chorley firm - who effectively spoiled Christmas for thousands of customers - has been wound by the Official Receiver.

Insolvency Service investigators found 30,000 orders had been made, via a website set up by Advance Tech (UK) Ltd and Clever Technology, for gifts like games consoles and virtual reality headsets.

But the Christmas 2016 presents were never delivered and customers were later told to claim chargebacks through their banks.

The outfit, trading as Advanced Technologies, also operated a computer repair service, located in Pall Mall, Chorley. The director for the operation was Numan Ahmad, 24, of the same address.

An inquiry found Advance Tech transferred £3.4million paid in for the goods, through the online portal - www.savvibuy.co.uk - to Cannock-based Clever Technology.

But that firm passed those same funds to a third party in Dubai, where the money was withdrawn in cash.