The future of more than 30 people is hanging in the balance after a long-established Keighley manufacturer went into administration.

Shocked staff at Dean, Smith and Grace were still waiting for administrators to arrive and tell them their fate this morning.

A distressed employee at the Pitt Street factory said that many people had worked there for years and were devastated by the news.

One man, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is big news. The company has been around in Keighley for over 150 years and sells to people all over the world.

“We don’t know what will happen. I don’t know if they can save us yet - we are all just waiting to find out what’s going on. It is very sad.”

In April last year the lathe manufacturer launched a new division specialising in high quality, large capacity, precision milling machines.

The company has overseas links in Australia, New Zealand, France, Pakistan and the USA.