Over 130 people working in Ipswich town centre were yesterday told they would be losing their jobs.

Contact centre Call Connection, in Cromwell Square, has been put into administration and will cease trading with immediate effect, it was confirmed yesterday.

It is understood staff were told at lunchtime on Friday by chief executive officer Paul Clement, who is also chief executive of Ipswich Central, and an official from the administrators.

One member of staff said a lot of people affected were “angry and upset”.

He said: “Probably half the people here have worked together for 10 years or longer. For it to suddenly be taken away is extremely sad.”

• The announcement comes in the same week that the East of England Co-op announced plans to close its long-established distribution centre at Boss Hall Business Park in Ipswich.

That announcement putg at risk a further 170 jobs, meaning more than 300 people in the town now face an uncertain future.

Call Connection is an independent telephone lead generator and contact centre business specialising in the insurance and financial services industries.

In a statement, accountancy firm BDO LLP said two of its business restructuring partners, Martha Thompson and Colin Haig, had been appointed joint administrators of Call Connection.

A statement from BDO said: “Following the appointment of Administrators, the Company ceased to trade with immediate effect and, regrettably, it has been necessary to effect the redundancies of 134 employees.

“A skeleton staff has been retained at this time to assist with the winding down of the business.”

Martha Thompson, BDO business restructuring partner added: “Unfortunately, the company experienced recent financial difficulties which put a significant strain on its working capital position.

“The directors working in the business have endeavoured to secure a sale of the business as a going concern but, regrettably, a purchaser has not been found, leaving no other option but to place the company into administration and to cease to trade the business.

“The joint administrators are taking all necessary steps to maximise recoveries for the benefit of all creditors.”

MP for Ipswich, Sandy Martin said he was sorry to hear of the latest job losses.

He added: “We need to make sure we attract long-term, sustainable jobs to Ipswich with companies that are profitable and who will survive.”

Call Connection’s demise represents a tragic fall for the company, a contact centre business specialising in the insurance and financial services industries, which was launched in 2003 and for most of its history has been led by local businessman Graeme Kalbraier.

The company is a well-known employer in the town and in past years has won a number of awards including the EADT’s Business of the Year award in 2007.

Mr Kalbraier remains listed by Companies House as a director, but it appears that Paul Clement took over as chief executive in May this year.

Mr Clement was contacted but said it was “not appropriate to comment”.