Administrators hope to complete the sale of craft bakery chain M Firkin as a going concern by the start of February.

Administrators BDO Stoy Hayward said they are talking to a number of interested parties.

The 136-year-old firm, which is the UK’s sixth-lar-gest bakery chain, with 53 shops, called in administrators on January 10, saying sales had been hit by strong competition in the bakery market.