Resignation to BAE factory news

The Lancaster bomber was built at Woodford during World War II

It has a rich history as the factory which built the Lancaster bomber, but for BAE Systems' workers in Woodford, news of its closure was met with resignation rather than anger.

The defence giant is planning to shut the factory in Cheshire at the end of 2012, with the loss of 630 jobs.

Managers broke the news in a meeting at the site on Tuesday morning - but many workers said they already knew the factory's time was running out.

Workers were told some staff may be transferred to another site, but with jobs at its Lancashire factories in Samlesbury and Warton also being axed, many were resigned to facing redundancy.

Andy Jackson, 47, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, has worked at the factory for nearly 30 years.

The logistics operator, who helps to build Nimrod planes for the Royal Air Force, said: "My father worked here before me and I have been here for 29 years so it is a sad day.

We have got a professional job to do and we will carry on doing it to the best of our abilities Craig Hopkinson, site manager City's aviation history ends

"He came here in his mid twenties and worked here for 30-odd years, and built the Vulcan bomber. So we have got a lot of history with the site.

"But the announcement is not unexpected, we have been building up to it for about a year now.

"It is not like we will be thrown out of work instantly, we have got several years to plan our future."

Craig Hopkinson, a site manager at the plant, confirmed workers were not surprised by the announcement.

"We knew it was going to shut, this has just made it official," he said.

"We will still carry on and build the aircraft. We have got a professional job to do and we will carry on doing it to the best of our abilities.

"The management have said that they will work with us to protect our jobs as best as they can," he added.

BAE said the Woodford site was likely to close following the completion of its contract to build the latest version of the RAF's Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.

As well as the Lancaster Bomber, its workers produced the delta-wing Vulcan bomber in the 1950s.

The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said that the area's historic skill base could be lost with the site's closure.

Devastating news

Chris Fletcher, deputy chief executive of the chamber, said: "This is a blow to the Greater Manchester economy - these are skilled jobs that we do not want to lose.

"We would urge BAE Systems to rethink its decision.

"But if these redundancies cannot be avoided we would ask that staff are given all the support they need to find new employment in what is a difficult jobs market."

Unions reacted with dismay to the announcement, and believe that the factory's life could be extended by about two years if the government realises it needs more Nimrod aircraft.

Although the announcement was expected, John Fussey, from the Unite union, told the BBC there was a stunned silence when it was finally delivered.

"It's devastating news. It will be devastating for the families, all the employees and the local community," he said.

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