IT HAS been an unhappy new year for 60 workers at the Warrington-based Breathe.com after they were made redundant on Thursday, but the £1.4 million sale of the company on Monday saved the remaining 80 jobs.

Workers were given their marching orders following weeks of uncertainty after the company, which is one of the largest internet service providers, called in administrators in the middle of December.

But Michael Horrocks, of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, joint administrator of Breathe.com, sold the company to Great Universal Stores plc (GUS) for 1.4 million.

Mr Horrocks said: "We are delighted to have been able to conclude a sale in very difficult circumstances for Breathe.com, saving around 80 jobs as a result."