THE repercussions of the closure of one of the region's most famous family businesses has begun, with shop owners complaining the firm didn't even bother to inform them.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that Murrays the Bakers had gone into liquidation after 77 years, putting 60 staff out of work.

Now customers of the firm are complaining they were unaware until Tuesday afternoon that the company was unable to meet its deliveries.

Many were left struggling to meet demand after their normal deliveries were cancelled at the last minute.

Other bakery firms up and down the region were inundated with calls as stores tried to rectify their supplies.

Celia Mitchell, who runs Leeming Village Post Office in North Yorkshire, had been a customer with Murrays for 13 years.

She said: "We received our normal order on Monday and nothing was mentioned about any problems the company was facing.

"When no-one had contacted us on Tuesday, we were forced to ring them. That's when they said the company was in liquidation."

Mrs Mitchell, along with many other shop owners, faced a race against time to find another firm for its deliveries.

She added: "We ended up finding a firm in Burnopfield in County Durham. Luckily they were able to supply us with all we need."

Other bakeries in the region received dozens of calls on Tuesday afternoon from shops and stores desperate for deliveries.

One, Mowdens of Darlington, was contacted by post offices and stores across County Durham and North Yorkshire.

Owner Andrew Stokell said: "We've been covering a lot of orders for Murrays.

"I think the problem has been that most people were taken by surprise by the speed of events."

Owner of Murrays, John Murray, preferred not to comment on events surrounding the demise of the business.