BUSINESSMEN put in their top bids for assets of a defunct Redditch factory.

More than 100 buyers flocked to BSA Castings in Lakeside to take advantage of the range of machinery and equipment that went under the hammer and there were 74 further bidders online.

The auction was arranged by Edwards Symmons on behalf of administrative receivers G Wilson and AM Hudson of Ernst and Young. The firm went into liquidation at the end of last year resulting in the loss of 39 jobs.

The top price bid attracted for one item was £27,000 for a Bridgeport VMC 800XP Machining Centre.

Auctioneer Chris Price said: "With the rush of online auctions, it is reassuring to know the traditional on-site auctions, albeit with a web cast facility, still attract buyers.

"The range of equipment, including furnaces, machine tools, investment casting and general factory equipment, meant demand came from a variety of industry sectors."