Hopes have been dashed that pie maker Vale of Mowbray could be saved as a major sale of machinery was announced at the factory, but it is understood there are ongoing discussions over the future of the site.

Administrators were staying tight lipped this week when the Darlington and Stockton Times approached them about the future of the factory, which was closed seven weeks ago in a shock announcement with the loss of more than 200 jobs.

A huge sale of production machinery from the plant has been announced, with adverts in local newspapers at the weekend saying it was due to be held on Wednesday, November 16, with viewing at the factory in Leeming Bar on Tuesday, November 15.

But this week the sale date was changed. The online auction is being held through Sanderson Weatherall up to Thursday, December 8 with viewing at the factory on Wednesday, December 7.

It is advertised as a sale of the factory’s pie and scotch egg making machinery, along with office furniture and vehicles, with estimates ranging from £25,000 for top of the range equipment to £1,000 for furniture.

The auctioneers say the sale is being held on the instruction of joint administrators FRP.

There has been genuine shock and sadness in the community at the loss of Vale of Mowbray, which had employed thousands of people over the years.

It had originally been set up as a brewery in 1795, with pork pie production beginning in the 1920s. Since the 1990s it had been built up by the Gatenby family from Bedale into one of - if not the - leading pork pie producer in Britain, making up to 1.5million a week.

The firm's collapse came just months after a £4m investment was announced into new lines producing scotch eggs. Administrators said the company had experienced “significant financial challenges” in recent years due to rising raw material prices, increasing energy costs and sector-wide recruitment challenges.

It is understood negotiations are continuing over the future of the factory site, but FRP has not yet commented.

One former worker, who asked not to be named, said: “It is a loss for the area, we have heard about different companies wanting to take it on but with the auction sale it will definitely never be a pork pie factory again. Who is going to be making all the pork pies for Christmas?”

Rumours that Bedale sausage maker Heck was planning to buy the site were totally rejected by the company, which said it had no plans to take over. Soft drinks producer Caw Ingredients, which has a large factory near VOM and is currently seeking planning permission for another similar sized factory nearby, did not reply to requests to comment.