Malew Parish Commissioners first learned of the departure of Whitestone Garage from Ballasalla in the radio last week and by the weekend the garage had gone.

Commissioners’ clerk Barry Powell said: ’Commissioners were a bit of surprised at the speed of it, particularly as the garage only recently got new signage’.

Whitestone Garage operated the Mercedes-Benz franchise, which it has sold to Jacksons, who will be transferring the sales and service business to its new Cooil Road site in Braddan.

The company already has the franchise for Mercedes-Benz in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Wight.

It is understood staff were offered employment at the new site, although they were also surprised at the speed of the move.

Malew Commissioners said at their meeting yesterday this week they werer keen to find out what plans are for the future of the extensive site, which is owned by Isle of Man Enterprises.

It has operated as a garage since 1971.

The Manx Independent asked Isle of Man Enterprises what its intentions were for the site.

The company declined to comment.