160 jobs lost at Shropshire creamery
One of Shropshire's biggest dairy processors is to close with the loss of more than 161 jobs.
Dairy Crest will close its factory and creamery at Crudgington, near Telford, and consolidate production of butter and spreads, such as Country Life and Willow, in Liverpool.
Bosses today said redundancies were 'inevitable' but they hoped at least 50 members of staff would be able to transfer to the company's site on Merseyside.
Star comment: Crudgington closure another body blow to rural industry
The plant, which employs 161 people, will be gradually closed over the next 18 to 24 months and most of the redundancies will come at the end of the process.
Arthur Reeves, corporate affairs director at Dairy Crest, said the move followed a long review.
He said: "It is not a decision that we have taken lightly. It is after a long study and we believe it will save us a significant amount of money.
"We have had this study going on for a number of years so I don't think the news has been a big surprise for our staff.
"The hope is that some of the jobs will transfer to our plant in Liverpool but there is inevitably going to be some redundancies.
"We will do everything we can in terms of looking after staff and keeping them informed."
Workers were called to a meeting yesterday evening where they were told the news.
Read the full story and reaction to the closure in today's Shropshire Star.