A TALENT company aimed at helping budding entertainers find fame has gone into liquidation with debts of £34,000.

The collapse of Big Break Magazine, in Darlington, which has no assets, leaves more than 100 fame-seekers in the North-East and North Yorkshire out of pocket by a total of almost £2,000.

A creditors' meeting was held this week and the company was officially liquidated.

Former company director Fiona Blackmore is the major creditor and was owed about half the company's debt.

The business offered actors, singers, dancers and models a photo session and advert in a casting directory for £195.

It also promised to provide participants with workshop training and the chance to appear at a live event.

Liquidator Harvey Madden, of Taylor Rowland, in Yarm, near Stockton, said clients had not had their contracts fulfilled by Big Break Magazine.

Mr Madden said: "It has been unable to fulfil the contractual details of the clients, including being in this casting directory.

"I think everyone who turned up to the meeting wanted to express their anxiety that they weren't going to get their money back. But everyone appeared to sympathise with Ms Blackmore, who is the major loser in all this because she was the major creditor."

Other creditors included British Telecom and B&Q.

Mr Madden said the company could not fulfil its agreements with clients because it did not get the number of clients needed to cover its costs.

The collapse of Big Break Magazine follows a trading standards investigation earlier this year.

Officials said the company was not breaching any legislation, but warned prospective custom-ers to be careful of companies offering fame and fortune at a price.

Ms Blackmore said at the time that the company did not guarantee fame and fortune.

Mr Madden said the company had been set up by a man last October, but had been dormant until a 20 per cent share was sold to Ms Blackmore, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, in January.