TWO brothers are fighting the credit crunch after launching a new firm.

Vincent and Philip Beech, from Ellesmere Port, were forced to close their 28-year- old family business, Town Building Materials, back in September due to a slump in sales.

But the timber merchants have just re-opened their Coronation Road premises under the new name of RPV Trading, and are hoping to hit the ground running.

Vincent Beech said: “Sadly, the credit crunch got a grip of us and competition from the big superstores forced us to have to lay off staff, some of whom had been with us for 20 years.

“The downturn in business in general has affected every one and sadly that was the end of us.

“But we still had the building here so we’ve decided to re-open. We’ve acquired a little bit of stock so we’re going to have a go again, we’re fighting back.

“We were very sad for the staff last year so the aim is to try and get the business off the ground again.

“Some of our old customers are very pleased we’ve re-opened. We have a wide customer base, both builder and joiners as well as the domestic retail side.”

A third brother, Roger, was involved in the previous business but has since retired.