A CONSTRUCTION firm which has been building in Somerset for more than 160 years has ceased trading.

Henry W Pollard & Sons Ltd, based in Monmouth Street, Bridgwater, was founded in 1860 and worked on projects across the south west.

It had offices in Plymouth as well as the Bridgwater base and was known around the Somerset town simply as Pollard's.

It is believed it employed around 40 people at the time it closed, in the past couple of weeks.

Lucinda Coleman, partner and head of business recovery at PKF Francis Clark, confirmed it had ceased trading.

READ MORE: Bridgwater construction firm Pollard marks 150th anniversary

“Henry W Pollard & Sons Limited has sadly ceased trading and the directors are taking steps to place the company into creditors’ voluntary liquidation," she said.

"We are assisting the directors in this process but are not seeking to be appointed as liquidators.

"Creditors are currently being contacted and liquidators will be appointed in due course.”

The company was last run by Hugh Pollard from the founding family, until a management buyout in 1997.

In May 2010, the company held a dinner to mark its 150th anniversary and then-chairman, David Nisbet, said: “With the support of our clients and the strong team we have at Pollard I am confident that this milestone just marks the beginning of the next chapter of this respected company.”