A COLCHESTER shop has closed without notice after a major national tile firm shut more than 50 stores and axed hundreds of jobs.
CTD Tiles, one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of tiles, has closed down 56 stores after going into administration.
More than 260 jobs across the country have also been lost, but some of the branches have been saved by rival business Topps Tiles.
CTD Tiles Colchester, in the Cowdray Centre, on Mason Road, is one of the affected sites and has ceased trading.
Other CTD sites in Essex at as Basildon, Chelmsford, and Harlow have also closed.
CTD Tiles had 86 stores nationwide and sold bathroom, kitchen, wall, floor and outdoor tiles.
Some customers say they failed to receive products they had paid for.
Matthew Ford, 26, of Colchester is the owner of M Ford Plumbing, a business which also provides bathroom fittings.
He has been buying tiles from the Colchester branch for the last five years.
He said he ordered goods in the Colchester store which he now cannot access.
Mr Ford turned up outside the store to see if he could speak to anyone and has been trying to contact the company by phone but claims no one is answering or helping.
He said: “I ask my customers to purchase their tiles through the company.
“This makes things easier. They also have a full receipt.
"I’ll then collect them the day before the job starts, but I’ve got at least four orders that are pending collection.
“Then I got told out the blue they are literally shutting their doors.
“I’m upset and annoyed. It’s an inconvenience.
"I spent yesterday evening trying to sort out more tiles for jobs that are now needed by the end of this week.
“I feel let down that they didn’t let us collect what belongs to us before they slammed the doors completely.”
Castle Ward councillor Mark Goacher said: “I’m very sad it has happened. It could have a knock-on effect for other smaller businesses.
“It is very unfortunate and in the way it has happened.
“It is sad in general. A lot of these big chains have disappeared recently, such as Wilko and Debenhams.
“My thoughts are with the smaller businesses that will be affected.
"Hopefully we can fill this space with something else as soon as possible.”
The Colchester Gazette has contacted TCD Tiles for comment.
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