Three workers have been sacked by text message from a weight-loss firm.

Beauticians Rochelle Thorpe, 22, Freya Miles, 22 and Stacey Walker, 29, said that Ultra Sound Weight Loss, based in Queensberry House, Queen’s Road, Brighton, were all sent a text message from company bosses telling them they had been made redundant.

They said the firm shut down following a string of complaints from dissatisfied clients and claim they are owed thousands of pounds in back pay.

Stacey Walker, from Hove, said she was sacked while treating a client.

She said: “The client knew before I did that the business was closing. She told me that she had received a text saying that it was closing down. Then I was sent a text saying I had been made redundant.”

Rochelle Thorpe, from Saltdean, said: “It was really upsetting to be sacked this way. It is hard enough to find work as it is. I was really pleased to get the job and this is a real setback. I can’t afford to drive my car and pay my bills.”

Freya Miles, who lives in Hanover, said she heard about the company through the Job Centre centre and was interviewed by email.

She said: “I never met the manager Christina Henry and she was always hard to get in touch with. We had to set the treatment room up ourselves. Clients would hear about the service through online voucher offers and we made an appointment by email.”

The text message sent to them by Christina Henry read: “Hi. I will be calling you all individually but this is the quickest way of letting you know what’s happening.

“Our investigators are not happy with the number of complaints and so we feel the best option for USWL will be to close the clinics for one month on a temporary basis.”

According to the company website, the service uses ultrasound waves to break down excess fat, with customers paying £65 for a 20-minute session.

A consumer website has been inundated with complaints about the company stating that sessions they paid for were cancelled. Ultra Sound workers across the country used the web forum to say that they had received the same text as the Brighton staff.

The Argus called Ultra Sound Weight Loss several times yesterday but our calls were not returned.