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Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 16:49 GMT 17:49 UK
117 jobs go in Wedgwood closure
Wedgwood has confirmed that a ceramics factory is to close in January with the loss of 117 jobs.

Work at the Tuscan factory in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, will be phased out over the coming months before closing.

Sixty staff will move to the nearby Barlaston site. Wedgwood hopes most of the redundancies will be voluntary.

Up to 90 jobs will also go - mainly at Barlaston - after the merger between Wedgwood and Royal Doulton last year. The site is both firm's headquarters.

'Unacceptable losses'

The company will be reviewing its earthenware range and said there could be more job cuts.

The current size of the workforce in Stoke-on-Trent is about 2,000 people.

Waterford Wedgwood bought Royal Doulton in 2005, but last month the company described the size of its losses over the past year as "unacceptable".

Losses narrowed to �129m ($239m) from �167m ($307m) the year before, but the Irish firm said the result was still "disappointing".


SEE ALSO
Wedgwood dismayed by performance
12 Jun 06 |  Business
Ceramics company to cut 161 posts
08 Mar 06 |  Staffordshire

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