Administrators at failed contractor Lancsville have drafted in forensic computer experts as they continue their hunt for missing tower cranes and plant

FRP Advisory was appointed as administrator for Lancsville in December, when the 拢131m-turnover firm collapsed. It has since said it is 鈥渦nlikely鈥� any of the 990 creditors, which are owed a total of 拢23m, will get their money back, as it tries to track down missing assets.

In an update on its progress last week, the administrator said it was still looking for 鈥渟ignificant鈥� amounts of equipment, including tower cranes. A security firm has been hired to protect the remaining equipment, while a forensic computer firm, De Vere, has been contracted to copy all the firm鈥檚 servers and some computers to 鈥渇orensically rebuild a full picture of the company鈥檚 dealings鈥�.

The administrators have also written to all outside firms who have worked for Lancsville, with solicitors serving notices to some to request files officially.

Regarding the hunt, the administrator鈥檚 report said: 鈥淸Valuation agents] are continuing to carry out extensive investigations into the location and ownership of the Companies [sic] alleged assets. Due to the lack of complete paperwork this exercise has become protracted, although at present it appears that significant amounts of plant and equipment cannot be accounted for.鈥�

The administrators have already recouped just over 拢1m from selling the plant, machinery and cranes that were found on site. Some cranes are still contracted out to sites, however, and continue to be used, so may not be sold for 鈥渕any months鈥�, according to the report.

When the firm collapsed, 200 jobs were lost and the administrator blamed the fact the company had taken on jobs that were too big for its business infrastructure.

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