WORKERS at Harris of Winsford, which is set to close at the end of the month, have been given a much needed boost in the form of a major training grant.

Some £126,000 from the Department of Employment and Education will be used to retrain workers in new skills, such as fork lift truck driving.

Bill Eyres, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Eddisbury, had been lobbying MPs Gordon Brown, David Blunkett and Richard Cabourn to ensure a good deal for the factory staff.

He said: "This announcement is a welcome boost for the workers at Harris Bacon Factory as it will give them the chance to access training courses and gain new skills, increasing their ability to find jobs quickly."

When the factory finally closes 500 people will be out of work - doubling unemployment in the town.

But the free courses, which will be managed by the Cheshire and Warrington Learning Skills Council, should make them more employable.

Malton Foods, which owns the plant, has also welcomed the news.

A spokesman said: "We are concerned about the future of our employees and this government training grant, administered by the North Western Training Authority, will hopefully make it easier for them to obtain other employment."

Malton has yet to announce its plans for the site following the factory's closure.