A council has spoken of its disappointment about 90 job losses.

BOC Edwards, on the Manor Royal industrial estate, Crawley, announced last month it was shedding the jobs to move its service operations to the Czech Republic and the manufacture of vacuum pumps to Asia or Europe.

Doug Murdoch, Crawley Borough Council's executive member for planning and economic development, said: "This is sad news. Edwards was one of the first companies to move from London to here in the early days of the new town. Its workers were the pioneers of Crawley.

"Although unemployment is low in the town, the loss of 90 jobs is always of concern to the council.

"The council is always working with business partners and others to improve the job prospects for the town. We are also working with employers and education providers to make sure training is available so the skills needed by new businesses are here."

BOC Edwards, which also has sites in Burgess Hill and Shoreham, employs 1,369 people in Sussex with 427 in Crawley.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006