ONE of the world’s largest accounting firms have been appointed administrators of GHA Coaches after the company went bust.

Jason Bell and Christopher Petts of Grant Thornton UK LLP have today been appointed administrators of GHA Coaches, which is based at Ruabon, near Wrexham, North Wales.

The bus and coach services provider employed 320 staff and operated 230 vehicles from five depots in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.

GHA Coaches – provides a number of services throughout Cheshire – ceased trading on Wednesday, July 13.

Mr Bell said: “GHA Coaches is no longer operating and regrettably the staff have been made redundant today.

“We will explore all options in terms of bringing any part of the business back to life.

"However, our immediate responsibility is to look after the interests of the creditors.”

GHA Coaches was a family business run by principal directors Gareth and Arwyn Lloyd Davies.

The business recently received a winding-up petition from HMRC in respect of unpaid taxes.

The directors attempted to secure an emergency funding package but were unsuccessful. They then took steps to place the company in administration.

Grant Thornton LLP is the American member firm of Grant Thornton International.

The firm operates 58 offices across the US, employing around 7,000 employees, 550 partners. Its annual revenue is in excess of US$1.45 billion.

Mr Bell said: “We are also liaising with the local authorities involved on contingency arrangements for the routes affected in North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.”