A forensic services company which worked with Norfolk police and other constabularies across the country has been bought out of administration, saving nearly 70 jobs in Wymondham.

Key Forensic Services was working on more than 80 cases for Norfolk police when it went into administration in February, though it said it had taken steps to ensure evidence was handled properly.

The company, which employs 67 people in Norfolk, offers DNA testing services for both criminal prosecution and defence as well as paternity testing, environmental monitoring of laboratories and contamination testing.

The identity of the buyer has not been revealed.

Joint administrator Scott Bevan, of accountancy firm Mazars, said: 'The business attracted a high level of interest and we are delighted that a sale has been achieved that saves the jobs of 238 staff and preserves the diversity of the forensic market place.

'I would like to thank the company's stakeholders for their support during this period and I'd particularly like to thank all the staff, during what has been an uncertain time for all.'

At the time of the original insolvency Norfolk Constabulary said Key Forensic Services had been working on 80 cases which ranged from sexual assaults to robberies and drug crimes.

However, the police said a senior officer had implemented a plan to ensure the affected evidence was properly and professionally managed.

Administrators said they were called in after the company saw a cashflow crunch while expanding into new markets.

Company turnover to the end of March 2017 was £15.3m and it employs 261 staff members at its three sites in Coventry, Warrington and Wymondham.

The firm works with overseas governments and police forces and all staff are cleared to UK counter-terrorism standards.

Its Wymondham site, in Penfold Drive, is licenced for forensic analysis and DNA profiling work.

As well as Norfolk police the company says on its website that it works with the majority of UK police forces.

Forensic services were outsourced to private companies after the Forensic Science Service, which had a laboratory at Huntingdon, closed down in 2012.