MOTOR World in Andover has shut after its parent company called in the administrators.

The car parts and accessories retailer closed its store on Weyhill Road last week, along with the rest of its 30-plus stores across the country, resulting in a total loss of about 300 jobs.

When an Advertiser reporter visited the branch on Monday most of the stock had been cleared from the premises and there was a notice explaining the firm’s demise on the door.

Customer Sol Robinson said: “It’s a real shame, I used them regularly and much preferred it to Halfords. They always gave helpful advice and I never felt they were trying to sell you things just for the sake of it.”

Motor World claimed to be the UK’s largest independent car parts retailer with 40 years’ experience.

Pacific Retail Ltd, which operated under the Motor World brand, was placed into administration along with Maccess Ltd and Godfrey Autoparts Ltd at the end of March. They are part of the Bury-based Tetrosyl group.

The Advertiser made several attempts to get a comment from Motor World but had no response as we went to press.

A company spokesman told Retail Week: “The dynamics of the industry have changed and the customer base has declined to a point where business is no longer viable.

“After taking advice we are left with no alternative but to put these businesses into administration.”

Motor World previously went into administration in 2008 at the height of the recession, denting plans to have 340 branches by 2010.

It is the second business on Weyhill Road to close in a matter of weeks. The Advertiser recently reported that independent wine specialist Grape Expectations had shut after five years of trading.