Jobs go at furniture manufacturer

The Caernarfon plant employed 65 people

A furniture manufacturer in Gwynedd has closed with the loss of 65 jobs.

Gleneagle Furniture was based on the Cibyn industrial estate, Caernarfon.

The company, which employs another 220 people in Meath, near Dublin, Ireland, said there was not enough business to keep both factories going.

The firm also blamed the weakness of the pound. Gwynedd county councillor Dewi Lewis described it as a "substantial blow to the Caernarfon area".

The manager of the Caernarfon plant, John Patterson said: "There is not enough business to keep both factories going and the company has decided to cease trading in Wales.

There were two reasons for the company's decision, he added.

One was a problem with their bank, and the other was the weakness of the pound.

The company started manufacturing in Caernarfon in June 2000.

"The company has been a well respected and extremely important employer in the area for a number of years," said Coun Lewis, who leads on the economy and regeneration on Gwynedd council.

"Officers from the council's economy and regeneration service have been in discussions with the company for some weeks to try to safeguard the jobs at the Caernarfon site.

"They will now continue to work with partner organisations to identify training and employment opportunities for those workers affected," he added.