Bleak Christmas for hamper firm

Thousands of families are facing a bleak Christmas after a UK hamper company suddenly ceased trading.

Customers of Farepak, owned by European Home Retail (EHR), paid money monthly to the firm or its agents towards food hampers for the festive season.

BDO Stoy Hayward has now been appointed administrator of the Swindon firm.

It said Farepak was "unable to honour its commitments to make deliveries of any vouchers, hampers or other items" to its tens of thousands of customers.