Administrators at the doomed Cleveland Bridge factory say they are talking to a number of companies interested in buying some of the Yarm Road assets.

The Northern Echo understands that there is a ‘competitive sales process’ and that there may also be a leading potential purchaser of some of the major pieces of kit used over the years for such iconic structures as The Wembley Stadium Arch and The Shard in London.

Dialogue has been kept open with the company and other bidders, in preparation for a 'property and asset sale' after the gates finally close next week and the remaining redundancies are made after almost 150 years of the best bridge-building in the world.

Read more: Administrators confirm closure

One firm that had been mentioned several times to The Echo during the early stages of the administration – and were described by one worker as ‘the only ones that made an effort’ – was investment group RDCP, but they confirmed to us today: “RDCP is definitely not a buyer involved in the Cleveland Bridge process.”

Even after the shocking announcement on Thursday that the desperate mission to find a new buyer had ended in failure, Joint Administrators Martyn Pullin, David Willis, and Iain Townsend of specialist business advisory firm FRP say they are still hard at work helping the staff.

A spokesman said: “The administrators are still leading the process and will be until their duties are fulfilled and the administration ends. That includes supporting workers with making claims to the redundancy payments service.”

After weeks of desperate negotiations to try to save Cleveland Bridge, time finally ran out for the firm and its workers as it was confirmed to workers that the site would close for good.

Read more: Furious backlash

The Administrators said they had run out of options, telling us: "Assurances required from the buyer to confirm their ability to proceed have not been received. Whilst the Administrators will keep this dialogue open, they must prepare for the prospect that the business will cease to trade following completion of final production in week commencing 20 September 2021."

They went on: "With no current viable offers remaining to take the business on, we must now prepare for a property and asset sale. Regrettably, production will finally end on site later this month. Our specialist employment team will continue to work closely with the staff."

Steve Thompkins, Senior Organiser at the GMB union which had been fighting for its members at Cleveland Bridge said: “It's simply devastating news for all the workers.

“This is not the staff’s fault – the blame lies squarely with the management and owners. When the administrators were looking for a buyer it needed long-term investment but you just don’t get that easily any more.

"Everyone is looking for a quick fix."