Staff laid off from a Pembrokeshire call centre on Thursday have spoken of their despair at suffering a second jobs blow within months.

On Thursday, Vertex - the firm which recently took over the running of the Cleddau Bridge facility - announced it was pulling out after only two weeks in charge, with the loss of 223 jobs.

You get work for six weeks, then here's your P45 and wait for the next contract to come up Sacked worker Denton Cunningham

Back in May, 800 workers at the site were laid off following the collapse of the call centre's main client, the broadcaster ITV Digital.

The cuts are the latest in a series of economic blows for the area, and frustrated workers and local businessmen have now called for action from the Welsh Assembly.

One of the sacked workers, Denton Cunningham, said he was trying at leaving the area because of the uncertainty.

"I just keep coming back and forward to Cardiff trying to find things," he said.

"To get up there I need the money and to get the money I need to work first.

The call centre is a state-of-the-art facility

"You get work for six weeks, then here's your P45 and wait for the next contract to come up."

Mr Cunningham said he had had enough of false promises from managers and politicians.

"They keep saying there is going to be more guaranteed work after Christmas."

"But that's what we've been having all along, so you've go to get out really," he added.

Politicians have claimed Thursday's announcement could be a "blessing in disguise" as it could lead to changes in the way the centre is run.

Pembroke Dock shopkeeper Dai Jones said that the jobs cuts were having a devastating effect on local businesses, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

"Every day is like a Sunday - last year it was like ants in the streets - now it's like 'spot the customer'," he said.

'Silver lining'

After Vertex's announcement, talks between the Welsh Development Agency, the Welsh Assembly and the council began to talk about how to attract new companies to the centre.

Welsh Assembly Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said that Thursday's cuts were "terrible news".

Andrew Davies said there was a "silver lining"

"To lose your job once is bad enough - to lose it twice must be devastating."

But he said that being freed from the way that Vertex ran the centre meant that the local authorities could have a greater say in the way the centre was run.

"To some extent there is a silver lining with Vertex pulling out - I believe it gives us a lot more freedom for getting the new clients in."

Maurice Hughes, Pembrokeshire council leader, hoped for better times in the future.

"Our thoughts are with the employees and their families but it is essential we get people back into work."

Around 1,500 jobs have been lost in Pembrokeshire since April last year, including those cut when clothing manufacturer Dewhirst closed its plant in Fishguard.