Bristol-based EPC Direct is understood to have stopped production on 5 December, after notifying staff of its imminent closure on 2 December.

BDO Stoy Hayward confirmed that Simon Girling and Danny Dartnaill were appointed joint administrators to the business last Thursday (11 December) and that EPC had ceased to trade prior to their appointment.

EPC managing director Matthew Trounce could not be reached for comment.

Pureprint has since taken on four of EPC's former staff, including general manager Matthew Cummins and sales staff Clare Irish, Seamus Brennan and Steve Lacey, as it bids to expand its presence in the west of England.

Cummins said: "After 21 years at EPC producing high-quality, premium printing we were concerned that we might struggle to find like-minded people to continue our careers with, but the team at Pureprint are exceptional and they have also opened our eyes to the exciting new areas of printing using their HP Indigo technology. We are looking forward to the future."

The four-strong team form Pureprint's new Bristol office, based in the Aztec West facility just off the M5, enabling easy access for customers. Pureprint Bristol will work closely with the ex-Butler Tanner & Dennis staff, led by James Gascoigne, who opened a Pureprint office in Frome earlier this year.