LONDON, ENGLAND: Three United States-based parties are in talks to save china- maker Waterford Wedgwood after the Irish company called in receivers, the Financial Times newspaper said yesterday.

The heavily-indebted maker of Waterford crystal, one of Ireland's most famous brands, failed to buy time from its creditors, and on Monday asked for its shares to be suspended.

The Financial Times report said accounting firm Deloitte, which is acting as Waterford's receivers, was in talks with three US parties about selling the majority of its assets.

Waterford Wedgwood, whose luxury tableware was once a mainstay of wedding-gift lists worldwide, has called in receivers and placed two of Britain's most venerable china- makers into administration.

The owner of British potter Wedgwood, founded 250 years ago by Mr Josiah Wedgwood - one of the fathers of the industrial revolution - had warned last month that it would not be able to pay interest to bondholders.

The global financial crisis and ensuing economic slowdown has already claimed a raft of casualties in the British retail sector, including supermarket chain Woolworths, which is set to close this week with the loss of 27,000 jobs.

Waterford Wedgwood has some 8,000 employees worldwide, including 1,900 working in manufacturing and retail in Britain and 800 in Ireland. It also employs 1,000 workers at Germany-based porcelain-maker Rosenthal. - REUTERS