A FACTORY is to shut with the loss of more than 180 jobs.

Crest St Ivel announced it was transferring production of chocolate desserts from its base in Chichester to another plant in Paignton, Devon.

Around 128 jobs were axed at the factory on the Terminus Road Industrial Estate when it stopped manufacturing yoghurts last

October.

Now another 182 will go as the firm scales down ready for closure next year.

Managers admitted staff were "extremely disappointed" when they were told

yesterday.

Workers leaving the site last night said they were saddened at the news.

One worker said: "It has been on the cards since last year when the first job losses were announced.

"I don't think people were really surprised."

Firm spokeswoman Toni Hensby said the closure would be completed by the middle of next year.

She said concentrating dessert making at Paignton was a cost-cutting move.

He said: "It will allow us continued growth in

a highly competitive

market,"

St Ivel said it would do all it could to help staff find alternative jobs and some would be offered the chance of relocating to Devon.

The company said 85 per cent of the workers who lost their jobs last year had been helped to find alternative employment.

The factory, built in the Forties, was taken over by Unigate in 1971.

Chichester District Council leader Jane Chevis promised the council would do all it could to help the workforce.

Economic development manager Martin Barnes

is to visit the factory

next week for urgent talks.

Coun Chevis added: "I'm very disappointed to hear the company is moving its operation. However, I can understand the reasons in a highly competitive market."

A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers' Union, which represents many of the staff to be made redundant, said: "While this is not exactly unexpected news, it is still tough for our members to take.

"The closure of the factory will be in phases, with the end coming around the middle of next year.

"We will be in close contact with the company and will discuss with them the relocation of staff and ask for their co-operation in helping to find alternative employment.

"We want members to get the best deal."

It is the second major jobs blow for the Chichester area in recent months.

In December Webbs Country Foods announced it was closing its chicken processing plant in the village of Halnaker with the loss of around 200 jobs.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.