A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of 190 jobs at a Leominster clothing company this week after the firm was placed in administration.

E Walters (Ludlow) Ltd - which moved its headquarters from Ludlow to Leominster in 1997 - blamed "difficult" trading conditions.

A statement from the family-owned firm said that "with great sadness and regret" it had appointed Myles Halley and Richard Fleming of KPMG Corporate Recovery as administrators.

A buyer is being sought for the company.

The leading supplier of men's trousers has factories in Slovakia and Bulgaria and contracted plants elsewhere in Eastern Europe and in Asia.

"We were in the process of restructuring our production facilities in Eastern Europe," said company chief Jean Walters.

"However, trading conditions were difficult over the quiet summer months and we have had to seek the protection of an administration order."

The company is to continue trading until a buyer is found.

Joint administrator Myles Halley said: "We are confident that, with the ongoing support of our customers and suppliers, we can achieve a sale as a going concern."

Walters, founded in 1957, employs 150 staff at Southern Avenue, Leominster, where pressing and finishing work is carried out and where boxed garments and 500,000 hanging garments are stored for distribution.

A further 40 people are employed in shops.

Walters praised its "excellent, loyal local workforce, for whom the current uncertainties mean a difficult period to come."

The company statement said: "As has been widely reported, trading conditions this year have been difficult in the clothing and textiles sector.

"However, the management team believe there is still the basis of a good business, with a blue chip customer base."

Yesterday, (Wednesday), Rachael Morgan of administrators KPMG said no one had been laid off and it was hoped to sell Walters as a going concern.

The company crisis was unrelated to the current clothing imports block at European ports.

"The company's problems are not based on the current blockade, rather increased competition and difficult trading conditions experienced throughout the retail sector," she added.