Dairy Crest to close Crudgington plant risking 160 jobs

Dairy Crest is to close its creamery in Shropshire within the next 18 months, putting up to 161 jobs at risk.

It said the closure of the plant at Crudgington was part of a "continued drive to improve efficiency".

The company said it would now make more butters and spreads at its existing site in Kirkby, in Liverpool, where it would create about 50 jobs.

The USDAW union, which has 100 members at the site in Crudgington, said workers had been left "shocked".

Paul Taylor, from the union, said: "The news has really demoralised everyone.

"Many employees and indeed members of their families have worked at the site for years.

'Breathing space'

"We will do all we can to try and save jobs at the site, but in the circumstances it is likely to prove very difficult.

"Any closure is unlikely to take place until 2014 at the earliest and we'll use this short breathing space to do all we can to support members."

The union said it would talk to the company to try and find members alternative work with Dairy Crest or jobs outside the company.

Dairy Crest completed the transfer of production of Clover butter from Crudgington to Kirby earlier this year, which led to about 90 job losses.

It said it also planned to increase bulk butter production at its Severnside creamery in Gloucestershire, where 20 extra jobs would be created.