A WHOLESALE bakery, famously hit by a health and safety scandal three years ago, last night went into administration, putting the jobs of its 35 workers under threat.

Riverside Bakery Limited, in Middlesbrough, has been trading for more than 25 years, but has suffered in the recent economic climate.

Yesterday, it was announced that administrators from the Newcastle office of accountant Baker Tilly had been appointed to the company, which only a few years ago invested £750,000 in its factory.

The company is a wholesaler of bread buns for schools, colleges, sandwich shops and other food retailers across the North-East. It is understood the firm has supplied up to 1,000 clients in the region.

In 2006, Riverside Bakery was hit by controversy when it was fined £16,000 after pleading guilty to four breaches of food safety regulations. At the time, the company made headlines when it was condemned for filthy and insectinfested conditions at its base on Middlesbrough’s Riverside Park.

In October the previous year, food inspectors reported “appalling and highly unsatisfactory”

conditions at its factory, in Bowes Road, with one finding fruit flies when he squeezed a lump of yeast.

Further inspections by Middlesbrough Council’s food and safety team found more discarded dough infested with fruit flies, biscuit beetles and mould, dirty equipment and waste foods in preparation areas, and toilets covered in human faeces.

At the time, Riverside Bakery said it was an “isolated incident,”

and invested £750,000 to upgrade its premises shortly after the incident and before the case at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

Last night, the administrators said it will attempt to sell the business as a going concern and was optimistic about securing a buyer.

Mark Ranson, who alongside Alec Pillmoor is joint administrator, said: “The bakery has found the economic conditions increasingly difficult. We are, however, optimistic about selling it as a going concern and safeguarding jobs. The bakery is well established, has a strong reputation and has invested in production facilities.”