The factory makes access covers and gratings

Saint-Gobain Pipelines has announced that they are switching production to another site in May.

Management have blamed the collapse of the telecoms market which has led to over capacity in its UK plants.

The firm which makes access covers and gratings at the factory have said they will make every effort to help staff find other work.

"We deeply regret the closure of the Risca site resulting in 79 redundancies," said Paul Hubbard, managing director of Saint-Gobain Pipelines UK.

"We will be making every effort to support our employees and their families at this difficult time and to help them with their search for alternative employment both within and outside the Saint-Gobain Group.

"We are closing Risca because the collapse of the telecoms market has lead to over-capacity at our UK plants, affecting our competitiveness.

I have tremendous sympathy for the workers and their families who have received this news Don Touhig, MP

"This is in spite of an investment of more than �5million in the last six years and the considerable efforts of the workforce," he added.

Don Touhig, MP for Islwyn and Under Secretary of State for Wales, expressed his disappointment at the job cuts.

"I have tremendous sympathy for the workers and their families who have received this news today. I am obviously disappointed at the announcement," he said.

"I have already been in touch with the unions to offer my support.

"Over the next few days I will be closely in contact with representatives of the workforce, the plant management, and the agencies who make up Team Wales.