THE BANKRUPCY of bakery chain Mountstevens hasn't just affected its hundreds of staff.

Customers who pre-ordered cakes and other products have also been left out of pocket.

Elleny O'Dowd, 38, said she ordered a cake from Mountstevens in Market Street, Swindon, for her daughter's sixteenth birthday next month.

When the firm went bust last week she lost her £19 deposit and now will have to look elsewhere for a cake.

She said: "The money's not the main issue, although I'm a single parent, it's the fact my daughter's left without a cake.

"I feel sorry for the workers because they've lost money too. I expect there are a lot of parents who have been left in the same boat."

The Bristol-based chain had 78 shops, including two in Swindon and one in Wootton Bassett.

Their 800 workers have been left without a pay-off and some have even lost out on wages owed.