A Medway building firm that has traded in the Towns for 40 years has called in administrators.

Vincents Building Supplies Ltd, on Rochester Airport Industrial Estate, made 11 people redundant on Thursday .

The firm had thrived since opening in 1969, but has became the latest victim of the economic slump.

General manager Kevin Smith, 47, said: “It was a struggle but things were generally okay until September, but in the second week of November turnover dropped off the face of the planet.

"The last few weeks have been like sitting over someone’s deathbed waiting for them to die.

“There are a lot of years of experience here that have gone to the wall.”