Wrightbus, the maker of London’s ‘Boris buses’ and one of Northern Ireland’s largest manufacturers, was placed into administration on 25 September, with 1,200 out of 1,250 staff losing their jobs.

Michael Magnay, joint administrator from Deloitte, who will oversee a form of creditor protection that often precedes bankruptcy, said: “Despite extensive efforts over recent months, it has not been possible to find a buyer who wanted to maintain the business as a going concern.

“The administrators will explore all remaining options for the business and assets, and would encourage any interested parties to contact them.”

Unite regional secretary Jackie Pollock said: “Wrightbus is the last UK company capable of producing double-decker buses with advanced renewables technology — needed by commuters in Belfast, Dublin and London and vital to any vision of a transition to a sustainable future.

“We call on Boris Johnson to ‘take back control’ and nationalise to invest in securing UK bus manufacturing capacity.”