SCORES of residents may be thousands of pounds out of pocket with the mysterious closure of a Hampshire double glazing firm.

Heat Seal Windows and Conservatories has gone into administrative receivership.

Staff tried to contact customers in a bid to stop them losing money.

Fourteen employees arrived at the company's headquarters at Solent Industrial Estate, Hedge End, to find computers, telephones and all other office equipment had been removed.

Police say they will investigate any allegations of criminal activity relating to the closure, although none had been brought to their attention by the receivers.

Hampshire trading standards had a routine meeting with the firm just two weeks ago and there were no signs that it was in financial difficulties.

The company was not a member of the Glass and Glazing Federation and so customers' deposits are not covered.

Andrew White, a manager at receivers Price Waterhouse Cooper, said he could not say how many people were owed money.

He said: "We will be contacting all the customers in due course once we have pieced together what the situation is from the accounting records.

"We met with one of the directors Jonathon Coombs on site who was co-operative with us.

"We have not yet been in contact with the other director but that is something we will be doing. "Two insolvency practitioners have been appointed to manage the firm's affairs.

"It does not necessarily mean that the company will go into liquidation."

There was no answer at Mr Coombs's home in Shamblehurst Lane South, Hedge End, when the Echo visited. The other director is Ronald Rene Gambier, of Calverthorpe Valley Lane, Thorney Hill, Bransgore. No-one connected with the firm knew of his whereabouts.

One angry customer, pensioner Regina Hinton was contacted by staff - but not in time to cancel the £340 cheque she paid as a deposit on a £1,700 job to have three windows installed.

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