HIS voice was familiar to thousands of radio listeners advertising his double-glazing firm, but now Ross Turtill is starting a new life – as a bankrupt.

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HIS voice was familiar to thousands of radio listeners advertising his double-glazing firm, but now Ross Turtill is starting a new life – as a bankrupt.

Mr Turtill, who formerly ran C & R Windows – whose holding company was Protectacoat Ltd, was made subject of a bankruptcy order on March 5.

Protectacoat Ltd was forced to cease trading in August last year, which at the time Mr Turtill blamed on a string of "unfortunate circumstances".

Another company called C & R Windows Ltd, registered by Mr Turtill in 1994 but not used, was purchased by Reg Mills.

Mr Mills re-launched the business as Dream Windows Ltd and moved into premises off Hadleigh Road, Ipswich. He also offered to employee all 25 of the original staff.

Although Mr Mills continues to employ the former director as a sales manager at Dream Windows Ltd, the new company is completely separate to that previously run by Mr Turtill in Howard Street.

A bankruptcy order has been made against both Mr Turtill and his wife Kathleen. Mr Turtill declined to comment.

Mr Turtill gained recognition throughout East Anglia after his voice was featured on a series of C & R Windows radio adverts.

He founded C & R Windows in 1989 and had amassed 15,000 customers over the years.

A bankruptcy petition can be brought if somebody is owed £750. If the debt is not paid within three weeks, the petition will proceed.

If the petition is undisputed, a person can be made bankrupt by the local county court.

In the immediate aftermath of a bankruptcy order rapid moves are made to seize a persons assets and property.

Any bank or building society accounts will normally be frozen by the official receiver.

In the long term, all property may be sold – including a person's home – although a 12-month notice period is given if a child or somebody else lives there.

When declared bankrupt a person is entitled to earn sufficient money to cover all reasonable living expenses, but any extra income is expected to be paid to the receiver to pay off debts.

Items of a personal nature such as clothing and bedding for basic domestic needs cannot be seized.