Poor trading conditions are understood to have forced the closure of Hemming Automotive in Chichester, West Sussex.

The single-site business, operating new and used cars and aftersales, ceased trading last week affecting around 30 staff.

The business is not in receivership. It is being advised by Grant Thornton.

Hemming has the Renault, Isuzu and Subaru franchises. It had been looking to expand with the Renault brand in Worthing.

In 2006 managing director Richard Hemming, a former director of Ford Retail, bought the business outright from Swan Garages, which itself had experienced trading difficulties.

It then had 34 staff and a turnover of £12 million.