A LONG-ESTABLISHED firm of North-East solicitors has entered administration, with the loss of up to 50 jobs.

Gateshead-based Swinburne & Jackson LLP which has offices in Hexham, Chester-le-Street, Washington and Ryton had been trading for 150 years before financial problems forced it to call in the administrators on Monday.

Gordon Goldie and Matthew Higgins of Tait Walker in Newcastle were appointed joint administrators, with the firm's accounts showing debts of more than £800,000.

Accounts filed with Companies House show Swinburne & Jackson owed £674,866 to creditors, and £125,365 in loans and debts to members.

It is the latest traditional law firm to fall victim to increased competition in the sector which is threatening scores of practices across the country. 

Mr Goldie said: "I think it's a tragedy that a company that has been going over 150 years should have to go into administration. The practice was looking for a buyer for several weeks prior to our appointment, but as we speak that has not been possible."

The administrators are in the process of conducting a formal wind-down with assistance from the Solicitor's Regulation Authority.

As a result of the administration process all staff at Swinburne & Jackson have regrettably been made redundant as the firm's five regional offices have closed, the adminstrators said.

Clients of Swinburne & Jackson are advised that their case files are in the process of being transferred to other solicitors across the region, and that they will be contacted directly by these firms in the coming days.