The future of nearly 1,200 jobs was in jeopardy today after Bradford-based Carpets International - the country's leading carpet manufacturer - went into administrative receivership.

Around 200 staff employed at the company's head office, off Rooley Lane, were today fearful for their jobs after learning of the firm's plight.

Carpets International, which supplies a string of high street retailers and trades under well known brand names such as Kossett, Wilton Royal and Abington, employs 1,190 people at seven locations around the UK.

The Bradford head office includes the sales, administrative, accountancy, design and development departments.

Smartly-dressed staff arriving at the offices today looked pensive and shell-shocked by the news. They had been told not to comment on the situation.

One woman was in tears and another said she had only learned of the news via a telephone call last night.

Joint administrative receiver Roger Marsh, of PricewaterhouseCoopers, said talks were taking place with customers and workers to keep them informed of developments.

He said that Carpets International, which has an annual turnover of £100 million, had suffered from changing consumer tastes and tough competition.

"Carpets International has a strong reputation, well-established leading brands and an excellent customer base," he said.

"The company has suffered in the last 12 months from falling demand in the UK market caused by a move by consumers away from traditional floor coverings and increased competition from imports.

"We are holding urgent talks with key suppliers and customers over the course of the next few days to seek their support to allow trading to continue. Naturally we will be engaging with the work force to keep them informed of our strategy in the days ahead."

But today union leaders said they feared the worst.

Peter Booth, national organiser of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: "Hundreds of jobs across Northern England, Wales and Scotland are at risk.

"We are very concerned about our members' livelihoods as a result of the news and we are seeking a meeting with the receivers at the earliest opportunity.

"We will be impressing upon them the need to respect the full rights of our members."

The company has centres in Bradford, Hartlepool, Hull, Abingdon and in Donaghadee and Killinchy in Northern Ireland.

It moved to its current base on the modern retail park off Rooley Lane from its former headquarters in Toftshaw Lane, Bradford, in 2001.

The firm used to employ more than 1,000 staff in Bradford but axed 800 jobs between 1996 and 1998, including 250 people just before Christmas 1996.

A further 100 posts were lost in 1999 when Carpets International moved its distribution department from Bradford to Doncaster, and another 200 went with the closure of the Toftshaw Lane manufacturing centre.

The jobs blow follows the loss of 125 manufacturing jobs at T&D Packaging, based in Bowling Back Lane, and Abbey National's admission it could switch Bradford call centre posts overseas.

Meanwhile, scores of Bradford retail jobs were hanging in the balance today after receivers stepped in at electrical stores group Powerhouse.

The chain, which has stores in Thornbury, Guiseley, and Keighley, is to close 93 of its 223 stores with the loss of more than 800 jobs. The firm is expected to announce later this week which stores will be affected by the move.

PowerHouse placed itself in administration, a protective move allowing it to continue trading from existing stock, after a trade insurer withdrew cover for some of the company's suppliers.