Cash to secure future of Youngs Seafood in Grimsby

Cash to secure the future of one of Grimsby's biggest employers has been given after the firm lost a vital contract.

Youngs Seafood lost its Sainsbury's contract earlier this year, with fears hundreds of jobs could go at the Marsden Road site.

North East Lincolnshire council and local MPs had been working to secure £1.3m of government funding.

The council said it was hoped some 250 jobs could be safeguarded.

Martin Vickers, Conservative MP for Cleethorpes, said: "Youngs is the biggest private sector employer in North East Lincolnshire, so the possibility of losing a few hundred jobs was not welcome, especially at a time when the area is on the up.

"For the individuals and all those concerned, it's a great relief I'm sure."

Pete Ward, Youngs chief executive, said it was a "very welcome development" and that the firm would be discussing the implications of the funding with staff and stakeholders.

He said as a result of losing the Sainsbury's contract, a formal consultation was under way and no decision could be made on company's next move until the end of the month.

The money has been made available from the government's Regional Growth Fund, which is designed to create new private sector jobs in areas which are heavily dependent on the public sector.