Marlow, the famous maker of ropes, is in ‘administrative receivership’ and bids from potential new owners are being made.

The company is still in production despite more than 50 redundancies at their plant in Scotland, Manchester and Hailsham, Sussex.

Sixty staff are still employed at the Hailsham plant. One worker said: ‘We are hoping and praying somebody buys us – not just for the name – but for the whole company and keeps us going.’