85 staff currently work at the Alcan rolling mill in Falkirk

The Canadian firm says difficult market conditions have forced it to shift operations to south Wales.

Nine of the 85 staff have opted to relocate while another 10 have found jobs elsewhere.

The David's Loan rolling mill was once one of Europe's largest aluminium manufacturers and employed 2,000 people at its height.

Thousands of tonnes of aluminium have been stockpiled ahead of Wednesday's closure, which the company blames on difficult market conditions.

'Devastating blow'

Andy Green, a worker at Alcan, has decided to follow the company to Wales to keep his job.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that becoming unemployed was simply not an option.

"It's very difficult relocating anywhere but I'm willing to give it a go and see how it works out," he said.

"After all, it means I will still have a job."

We have had a very good relationship with the local community and I know that we will be missed Gary Wygant Alcan

Project manager at Alcan, Gary Wygant, said the decision to relocate was a "blow" to the local area that could not be helped.

He explained: "The market conditions have been very challenging for aluminium products, especially here in the UK.

"This has forced the decision to consolidate our assets to Rogerstone in Wales.

"Alcan and its predecessor British Aluminium have been in Falkirk for around 60 years and has had a very good relationship with the local community. I know that we will be missed."

Attention will now turn to whether a buyer can be found who is interested in maintaining the 31-acre site as a manufacturing base.

Windfall hope

MSP Dennis Canavan, who represents the Falkirk West area, said a buyer for the Alcan site "must be found".

He added: "I would like to see an alternative industrial use for this site found that would provide employment for the town.

"I have already had talks with at least one local industrialist who is very interested and if that comes to fruition it would lead to more jobs than we are losing this week."

The closure comes less than two years after Alcan ceased production at its chemical plant at Burntisland in Fife, with the loss of 370 jobs.