More than 90 people have been left jobless after a Silsden-based card manufacturer went into administration.

Employees of Riverdale Publishing, on Keighley Road, arrived for work on Friday only to be told not to come back again.

Some of the workers, who range in age from their 20s to 60s, have been employed at the company for more than 15 years.

The chief executive Phillip Needham, who only a few months ago spoke of the company's financial "firmess" after receiving a £1million investment, was not available to comment.

A Riverdale employee said it was a very sad day for everybody.

PA to the chief executive and human resources manager Liz Newsholme said: "It came as a great shock, people got told on Friday that they wouldn't be back on Monday and I think they would have expected to be given 30 days' notice, which hasn't happened.

"The employees live and breathe it and to some people it is their second home.

"They employed quite lot of people in the area, and everyone has bills to pay and mouths to feed and there has been a lot of friendships made so it is a sad day."

Mrs Newsholme said that a few remaining members of the firm's former 110-strong staff had been retained for a few weeks to assist the administrators with their work.

The firm, which produced greeting cards, employed artists, design technicians and finance and customer service employees who travelled from Silsden, Keighley, Clitheroe, Skipton, Bradford and Leeds.

Mayor of Silsden Town Council Liz Trainor said that the news had been received with sadness.

She said: "Riverdale made a quality product that went around Britain and Ireland.

"I do not know just how many employees were from Silsden but it will have an effect on other Silsden businesses as well."

Graham Newton and Toby Underwood, business restructuring partners at BDO Stoy Hayward, were appointed joint administrators of Riverdale Publishing on Friday.

Mr Newton said: "Riverdale Publishing Ltd has been operating in a highly competitive environment and against very difficult market conditions.

"We have, however, been approached by a number of interested parties and are confident of securing a buyer for at least parts of the business."