One of Colchester's last large factories is to shed 200 manufacturing jobs.

Bosses at Betts UK, in Ipswich Road, broke the news to workers at a meeting for all 500 employees last night.

The firm is passing its injection-moulding operation to a new US-based partner, Nypro, and will concentrate on its laminate tubes business.

Staff do not yet know which of them will be laid off, but were told the redundancies would be made in the next year.

Bosses have promised to find alternative jobs within the company for as many people as possible. In a statement, managing director Rosemary Mason put a positive spin on the job losses.

She said: "This move will allow Betts to concentrate on its core business activities and to grow its laminate tube business in new market sectors in Europe, in particular personal care."

Published Friday September 10, 2004

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