A south Wales oil company has been forced to close since its entire workforce won �4.4m on the National Lottery.

All 17 workers at the plant were rejoicing a week ago after their jackpot win earned them �260,000 each.

Just two of the staff decided to hand in their notice - but company bosses decided to close the entire operation down, to the dismay of councillors.

Bosses at Houghton Vaughan said they had "no choice" but to shut their 20-year- old plant in Hirwaun, near Aberdare in south Wales, which develops oils and lubricants for the metal-working industry.

Highly-skilled operation

Most of the remaining workers are being offered relocation at another plant in Manchester or the chance to work from home, but two are being made redundant.

Company chairman Paul Miller, 52, said: "I can confirm that we are closing the operation down because the workers have won the Lottery.

"We interviewed each of the staff about their intentions and decided we could not carry on.

"Two key members of staff wanted to hand in their notice. We cannot just take workers off the street to replace them - it is a highly-skilled operation.

"The whole situation has come out of the blue."

Councillors from Rhondda Cynon Taff Council's Economic Development Division have begun talks with company managers about the future of operations.

The firm is near the tiny mining village Rhigos, where three years ago a family scooped �9.4m - the largest lottery winner in Wales to date.