Hammonds saw its net debt more than triple to £15.1m during 2008-09, according to the national firm’s first limited liability partnership (LLP) filings.

The UK top 30 firm’s combined bank loans and overdrafts reached £21.2m for 2008-09, up from £8.8m the previous year. An increase in cash in hand at the bank from £3.9m in 2007-08 to £6m meant that overall net debt grew from £4.9m to £15.1m, according to the filings with Companies House.