CLIENTS of a Christchurch estate agent are believed to have been left out of pocket after the company ceased trading recently.

Bentley Reeds in Christchurch, a residential sales and lettings company, is understood to have closed unexpectedly six weeks ago.

The company, which had been operating at Fountain Way in the town centre for around 18 months, says on its website that it operates a “comprehensive and friendly service where the needs of the client come first”.

A spokesperson at Companies House told the Daily Echo that although the company was currently registered as “active”, a proposal for it to be struck off for non-compliance had been lodged.

The spokesperson said Bentley Reeds had failed to meet its annual requirements by not filing its accounts in November 2010 and urged customers to lodge an objection immediately if they were owed money.

Landlord Ellis and Partners, which leased the building to Bentley Reeds, said it had been attempting to locate the owner of the business.

And Jeremy Clarke, owner of Belvoir Christchurch, next door to Bentley Reeds, said they had received lots of phone calls from the company’s clients enquiring about the business.

“People have been phoning up asking what is happening. They must have been closed about six weeks now,” he said.

The premises, which still has properties in the window – some of them sold and let – is still set up as an office, full of furniture and equipment and has a pile of post accumulating by the front entrance.

An employee of another local company, who did not want to be named, believed there were three employees at the premises– the owner and two staff members.

Customers, who believe they are owned money and wish to lodge an objection with Companies House, are asked to email them complete with supporting evidence to enquiries@companies-house.gov.uk.