Tiny Computers pulls the plug

TINY Computers has called in the administrators, making it one of Britain's largest casualties of the technology sector meltdown so far. Administrators Grant Thornton said they were called in by the directors after Surrey-based Tiny accumulated undisclosed but 'substantial' losses.

The company claimed to be the largest seller of home computers in Britain, selling 400,000 machines - 16% of the market - last year. Turnover was about £350m.

Rival Time Computers, based in Lancashire, is to buy some of Tiny's operation, including part of its 143-strong retail chain, but job losses among the estimated 4,000 workforce are inevitable.

The future of Tiny's outsourced contract with Fullarton Computer Industries to assemble PCs in Scotland is also uncertain. The company moved assembly of its computers from Asia to Prestwick last August. The deal with Time will give it rights to the Tiny name but Time is said to want a combined total of no more than 150 shops.

Tiny and its primary holding company OT Computers are registered in Jersey. Companies House said Tiny's last available accounts were for 1999 and the company is now liable for penalties for late submission of financial information.