ONE of the most famous names in regional baking looks likely to go with the loss of 60 jobs.

Murrays the Bakers opened its first shop in Darlington 77 years ago, but yesterday management said the company was in liquidation and had closed all six of its branches.

Shoppers arrived at the firm's shops in Darlington, Richmond and Northallerton to find doors locked, after what has been described as a difficult year of trading.

There was no one available at Murrays to comment on the development, but chartered accountants John B Taylor and Company, acting on its behalf, confirmed the news.

Accountant John Taylor said last night: "The firm's shops are closed from today and the business is in liquidation.

"The company's managing director, and the rest of the staff are understandably very upset.

"The firm employs 60 people at its head office in Union Place, Darlington, its four stores in the town, and one each in Richmond and Northallerton.

"The cause is the changes in people's shopping habits, causing a lack of demand. People are more inclined to shop at supermarkets than their local store.

"We will be preparing a statement of affairs this week, and have arranged a creditors meeting later this month."

In December 1993, bakery boss John Murray, whose grandfather Jack set up the business, had warned the dominance of out-of-town superstores would soon mean bakers could not survive in the town centre

The firm has already returned from the brink once before in January 1999, when a consortium of local business advisors stepped in with a £500,000 funding package to help save the firm.

JC & NH Murray became Murrays the Bakers Ltd, with the deal coming six months after John Murray voluntarily applied to the courts for an administration order to enable the company to restructure and expand its wholesale business.

Contracts with names such as Middlesbrough FC and Teesside Airport looked to have seen the firm over the worst, but today a second rescue package seems a million miles away for the firm