PricewaterhouseCoopers, acting as joint receivers and managers of Dairy Farmers of Britain Limited has sold four of the depots in Dairy Farmer's liquids division to The Capital Dairy Company Limited.

Another, the Cheshut depot, has been sold to Braeforge Limited. The sale included the transfer of 172 jobs to the new owners.

The deal follows a failed rescue bid for the Blaydon dairy last week. PwC is battling against the clock in a bid to secure futures for the Dairy Farmers businesses.

Seventeen depots have already been forced to close as customers have withdrawn their business. The Lincoln dairy that supplies many of these depots has also closed. In total, 250 jobs have been lost