Apple Home Improvements boss Scott Hill has spoken to the Echo

Unfortunately for his customers, former members of staff and the Echo readers, Scott Hill managed just two words - "yes" and "no" - before hanging up.

During a call on the afternoon of Monday, December 31, Mr Hill was asked if he was happy to speak about his company going into administration, leaving staff out of work days before Christmas.

He replied: "No."

Told a piece would appear in the paper regardless, and asked if he was sure he'd prefer not to speak on the record, he replied: "Yes."

He then hung up.

The Echo also visited the business's unit at the Aviation Business Park after reports that the building was in the process of being cleared out.

The unit was locked up and no one was inside. However, three vans and one company car marked with the Apple livery were parked outside.

Staff were left in tears when their contracts were terminated a week before Christmas.

Fuel cards for vans were cancelled without warning, while fitters discovered pre-paid cards for builders' merchants Travis Perkins didn't work.

Suppliers Eurocell say they are owed more than £76,000.

A number of sub-contractors also say they are owed between £3,000 and £4,500. It is claimed some staff have removed tracking devices from Apple vans and are refusing to return them or reveal their locations.

One of the vans was recently spotted in a residential street in Southbourne.

Mr Hill, who reportedly owns properties in Dubai, Marbella and Scotland, is listed as the active director of some 11 companies. According to Companies House, he filed a cessation in which he stopped being a person with significant control of the company on December 12 - a week before telling staff they were out of a job.

Martin Dean and Andrew Downes were made directors on the same day.

A sub-contractor has taken to website Trustpilot to claim Apple staff have been "mistreated".

"There are more than 60 installers who have gone without pay over Christmas," he said.