Norwich women's shoe factory Florida to close

The Florida group employs 80 people

A factory, which has been making shoes in Norwich since 1936, is to close and production is due to be moved abroad.

Florida, which makes women's footwear under the Van Dal brand, will seek new premises in the city where shoes will be designed and marketed.

Some production staff are being made redundant but most will be re-deployed, the firm said.

Florida's managing director Tony Linford said: "It's a sad decision but an economic necessity."

He added: "It's no longer sustainable to keep manufacturing here.

"Despite our best efforts, 'Made in England', particularly for women's shoes, doesn't resonate with big retailers."

'Marriages have been made here'

Norwich was a major centre for the manufacture of women's shoes and at its peak the industry employed 12,000 people. But from the 1970s, local production has been undercut by imports.

Justin Haystead has worked at the factory for more than two decades

Florida employs 80 people and said it had been hit by the closure of hundreds of independent shoe shops since 2010.

Mr Linford said the number in the UK had dropped from 500 to 200 so far this decade.

Justin Haystead, who has worked at the factory since 1994, said: "Families, friendships have been made here. Marriages have been made here. The reason I work here is because my mum worked here.

"It's a bit of a shame, but in order for everybody's family to still be part of the footwear family we need to move. It's as plain and simple as that."