A BRIDPORT firm that has been in business for more than 30 years is closing down.

Mike Halford Coaches is selling off its assets in an online auction and will close later in the month.

Six jobs will be lost in the move.

Director Mike Halford, who set the business up in 1983, said: “We have had a lot of support from the Bridport community, which we are very thankful for, and we have sent out correspondence to our regular customers explaining the situation.”

Property and asset consultants at ES Group’s Exeter office have been instructed by the director of Mike Halford Coaches to hold an online auction of the company’s assets.

ES Group, the collective name for Edward Symmons LLP, Storeys Edward Symmons and Aaron Fox, was appointed to undertake the work following a decision by Mike Halford Coaches to restructure the business.

The online auction will see the sale of six Mercedes service and mini buses, in addition to a panel van, with assets on view at Mike Halford Coaches on July 23, before the auction begins the next day.

Alongside the vehicles, workshop equipment will also be up for auction, including a taskmaster compressor, an engine hoist and stand and further stock and spares.

Simon Cornelius-Light, divisional director of the machinery and business assets team for ES Group in the south west said: “The auction will be a unique and exciting opportunity to bid for high quality vehicles of this nature and we are anticipating strong interest from bidders in throughout the UK and beyond.”