70 jobs

UNION bosses have moved to calm workers at a Winsford factory following the announcement of 70 redundancies.

Grampian Country Foods, based on Bostock Road in Wharton, has been forced to make the cutbacks due to overcapacity in the market but it is hoped there will be no further job losses.

USDAW area manager Steve Bennett said: "As a union we will be working closely with the company and monitor the situation.

"We are hoping the redundancies will be the last and I don't anticipate there being more."

Grampian Country Foods, which opened the factory in 2004, has made the redundancies in response to a falling demand in the meat market.

Mr Bennett said: "They didn't really have a choice because overcapacity in the market is always a problem for any business.

"In the short term the factory seems safe and we will be meeting with them every month so we will know very quickly if that position changes.

"The factory is not at risk at the moment and I don't envisage that being the case in the foreseeable future."