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Pickfords insists it is business as usual following reports that it could be sold to stave off financial meltdown. The UK's oldest and largest removals company says its US parent company Sirva is "evaluating options for its UK moving business," including a sale, but that business "continues as usual". The American arm of the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month to help it restructure its debts while still trading.

A report in The Times this week claims  London-based relocation and move management company Team Relocations is negotiating to buy Pickfords for a nominal sum in return for taking on the company's debts. A spokesman for Team Relocations says his company will not comment on the article. Pickfords says if and when it decides to proceed with a sale, an announcement will be made.

"The company is continuing to serve its customers without interruption, and its agreements with employees and all other business partners remain intact," says a spokesman. "As the company considers its options, it is placing a high priority on ensuring that the company's customers will continue to be serviced as they always have and employee jobs are preserved. "Sirva is still in the process of reviewing its options for the UK business and no course of action has been decided upon." Pickfords is registered in Britain as Sirva UK and has about 1,300 staff. It was taken over by Sirva in 2002.