A long-established firm with several offices in Southend has closed with the loss of 91 jobs.

Insurance loss adjuster Francis Charsley, which has offices in Alexandra Road and Victoria Road in Southend and Milton Road, Westcliff, has gone into voluntary liquidation.

The firm has been in the town for around 40 years and dealt mainly with holiday insurance, involving American Express, Thomas Cook, AXA, NatWest, the AA and Amex Claims Service.

A former worker said: "Everyone was left shell-shocked by the decision. We were called to a meeting and the company virtually shut-down overnight."

There is a creditors meeting in London on Monday, March 3.

Published Tuesday, February 25, 2003

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