The company was one of only a handful of canal boat builders in the UK and in April was working on about 25 orders. Since then, none of the boats has been completed by the company, despite many customers having paid significant deposits.

"This is a very sad case to be involved in as up until six weeks ago the business was operating normally and appeared to have a healthy order book, promising delivery to, and taking further stage payments from, its customers, " said Bailey.

We're currently assessing the situation and contacting those customers who paid deposits and various stage payments, she added.

"Some of those customers we have already spoken to have paid between £11,000 and £40,000 and have nothing to show for it, " said Bailey.