CUSTOMERS hit by the sudden closure of a carpet business have been given hope they may get their goods.

As reported on Saturday, Bob Hughes Carpets, of Ringwood Road in Poole, is set to be liquidated after falling victim to a drop in sales.

Begbies Traynor, the insolvency specialist handing the liquidation, has said some customers’ carpets are in storage and can be handed over.

Ruth and Bobby Nunne paid £1,398 before Christmas to carpet their three-bedroom bungalow in Northbourne.

But they agreed for the carpets to be kept in storage until February so they could have the home decorated.

Mrs Nunne said: “They said ‘You pay us for the carpet and pay the fitter on the day’. It was agreed the fitter would come on February 2 and they would store the carpet in the meantime.”

Customers who paid by credit card should be able to claim from their card provider, but Mr and Mrs Nunne settled their bill in full.

Julie Palmer, regional managing partner with Begbies Traynor, said the firm was working to help people get orders that were in storage.

“If people ordered carpet that wasn’t ready to be fitted, they put it away for about three months,” she said.

“We’ve dealt with some customers already.”

She said anyone who had paid for an order which might be in storage could contact Neil Allen of Begbies’ Salisbury office at neil.allen@begbies-traynor.co.uk or on 01722 435190. Bob Hughes Carpets was a family-run business established in 1973. Its demise has been attributed by Begbies to falling demand, tough competition and lack of an internet presence.

A creditors’ meeting is due to be held locally on January 30.