There are calls for the Welsh Assembly Government to do more regenerate West Wales, following news of more job losses.

Clothing manufacturer Dewhirst announced on Wednesday that it was to close its final Welsh factory in Fishguard with the loss of up to 200 jobs.

Rhodri Morgan pledged help for workforce

Dewhirst is the latest in a long line of employers to pull out of west Wales - in May, ITV Digital closed its call centre in Pembroke Dock with the loss of 900 jobs and in 1995, 500 were made redundant when the armaments depot at Trecwn closed down.

But First Minister Rhodri Morgan told BBC Wales that the assembly would search far and wide to find replacement jobs to help the staff from Fishguard and plants in Cardigan, and Swansea, to find jobs within the clothing industry or elsewhere.

"We have got to devise a plan in order to find alternative clothing suppliers who will want to utilise the workforce, or devise an alternative future away from the clothing industry," he said.

Dewhirst makes clothes for Marks & Spencer and has been badly affected by the withdrawal of orders from Marks & Spencer.

Regrets

The latest losses bring the total number of Dewhirst job losses in Wales to around 1,400.

In a statement the company said it regretted the move.

It said it continued consumer pressure on prices had affected profitability.

Emily Thomas from the GMB union said the union would be looking for meetings with the Welsh Assembly to assist the workers.

"We will spend the 90-day consultation period trying to work out every way for them to keep their jobs or get trained for other jobs - they're a highly skilled workforce," she said.

The factory makes trousers for M&S

Dewhirst has made a strategic decision to withdraw from manufacturing in Wales in a move to increase profits.

The GMB wants manufacturers and the government to develop strategies to save jobs in the sector, including getting contracts for public sector worker uniforms such as nurses, emergency and military staff.

Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the assembly, has called on Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies to set up an emergency west Wales "task force" to deal with the continuing loss of jobs from the area.

"Over the last few months, west Wales has seen too many jobs being lost," Mr Bourne said.

"Unlike larger towns and cities in Wales, west Wales feels these job losses all the more acutely."

In an additional blow for the Fishguard workforce, one women who had worked at the plant for nearly 30 years, was admitted to hospital and on Thursday morning colleagues learned that she had died.

As a mark of respect the factory will remain closed until Monday and talks between the unions and Dewhirst.

A 90-day consultation period is then set to begin during which time all agencies involved in the operation will search for an alternative to closing the site.