A PHOTOGRAPHIC company which has been running for more than 40 years has been forced to shut down.

Redwood Photographic Laboratories on Severalls Industrial Estate in Colchester has entered voluntary liquidation making approximately 20 staff redundant.

The company offered services including the production of wedding albums, school photography and a full laboratory service.

The family business began in 1974 when founders John and Ann Williams started the firm in a shed in their garden on Redwood Close.

Laboratory manager Mark Winterbottom had worked for Redwood and Colchester Colour Imaging – a company which Redwood had incorporated - for one month shy of 30 years.

He said: “To be perfectly honest the biggest problem was cash flow.

“The office was probably double the size it needed to be with the amount of staff who were rattling around there.

“Redwood became a victim of the digital age, any photographer with a file doesn’t need a negative anymore and can send it instantly to Spain, Italy or even Australia.

“The share of the pie was getting smaller and smaller and we were one of the few laboratories which didn’t have a huge pool of photographers.

“Up until recently we thought we would be able to trade out of the problems but unfortunately it wasn’t the case.”

Mr Winterbottom said one if the biggest disappointment was how close staff members had become when they had worked there.

He said: “This is the first time I have been out of work and it has come as a bit of a shock. It has all been a bit of a whirlwind.

“There was an incredible amount of friendship and almost a feeling of family amongst the people who worked there.

“People from Redwood would go on holiday together, have barbecues and meet up in town for a drink. It was cheek to jowl.”

A sign on the door of the company’s former office on Severalls Industrial Estate confirms the company has ceased trading and potential new tenants can view the building by contacting insolvency agents.