AN ACCRINGTON garage is set to close with the loss of 32 jobs.
The Stratstone Volvo dealership on Sydney Street is to shut at the end of October - but the reason remains a mystery.
One shocked worker, who did not want to be named, told the Observer: "The news came like a bolt from the blue. The management just dropped it on us.
"It's bad enough being made redundant at any time but it's even worse just before Christmas."
The company, the UK's largest Volvo network, has several other branches in the North West, including Bury, Oldham and Preston, which are unaffected.
Some of the Accrington workers are believed to have been offered a transfer.
The employee added: "No-one has told us why it is closing but there is some speculation it is related to the lease running out.
"It's even stranger because six people worked in the bodyshop, which did the repairs for the whole North West group."
A spokesman at Stratstone referred inquiries to its parent company, Pendragon, which declined to comment.
Before being bought by Stratstone the business was known as Walker Farrimond and before that Hindle and Walker.
