A third of the workforce in the Maerdy factory are women

United Polymers, in Maerdy, went into administration on Thursday, putting 310 jobs at the site under threat.

Administrator Kroll said 48 staff at the plant had received redundancy notices.

Local council leaader Russell Roberts called it a "bitter blow to the economy of the Rhondda Fach".

United Polymers, which also employs 65 people in Corsham, Wiltshire, makes rubber and plastic moulded products for the car industry.

But the administrator added it wanted to sell the business as a going concern.

I believed I was a good worker and yet I still didn't do enough to keep my job United Polymers worker Nicola Evans

One worker at Maerdy, Nicola Evans, told BBC Radio Wales she heard she was losing her job after going to work on Thursday.

She added: "I went into work for a normal day and realised there were going to be redundancies, but didn't think it was going to happen to me.

"I was taken upstairs and was told my job had gone.

"I asked 'Do I come back tomorrow?' and they told me 'No'. So that's it.

"I believed I was a good worker and yet I still didn't do enough to keep my job."

'World leaders'

Regan Everson, secretary of the GMB union at the plant, said he hoped assistance would be found for the plant.

I will be looking at every possible means of support for the administrator in identifying a buyer, and support for the employees in finding good, new jobs Andrew Davies, Economic Development Minister

He said: "I have no doubt of the skill of the workforce - they are world leaders in some sections of the polymer moulding and rubber mixing business.

"To find the company has gone into administration has been a great shock. I don't think anyone saw it coming.

"Hopefully, someone can come forward with a rescue plan.

"Hopefully, the Welsh Assembly Government, who have been supportive in the past, can look at ways of assisting the company."

Adrian Wolstenholme, of administrator Kroll, said United Polymers' two plants had a combined turnover of more than �18m but it had been placed in administration due to "ongoing losses".

"We will advertise the businesses for sale and we intend to continue to trade whilst buyers for the businesses are sought," he said.

The factory opened on the site of the last pit in the Rhondda

"We appreciate that this is a worrying time for employees and their families."

United Polymers took over the car components factory from engineering group Fenner, which had opened the plant in 1997.

It was built on the site of two pits at the former Maerdy colliery - the last pit to close in the Rhondda in 1990, which left the village an unemployment blackspot.

The factory was built after reclaimation on the site of the mine by the Welsh Development Agency in one of the most economically-deprived parts of Wales.

The area has also been hit by recent job losses.

Earlier this month, fire extinguisher manufacturer Chubb announced it was closing its factory in Ferndale with the loss of 154 jobs.

Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews said a downturn in the automotive industry had affected the plant.

"The company has been hit by difficult conditions in the automotive sector that have affected its cash flow," he said.

He said the assembly had given substantial assistance to the company earlier this year.

'Financial circumstances'

Mr Andrews called on the WDA, education body Elwa, the Welsh Assembly Government and Rhondda Cynon Taf council "to look at future business options for the area".

Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said the assembly government and partners had tried to maintain the firm "over a long period".

"My officials have already met with the administrators," he said.

"I will be looking at every possible means of support for the administrator in identifying a buyer, and support for the employees in finding good, new jobs."

Rhondda Cynon Taf council's cabinet member for economic and community regeneration Robert Bevan said they had worked with the assembly government over recent months to develop a rescue package.

"It is very sad that the financial circumstances of the company and other commercial factors have resulted in United Polymers being forced into administration," said Mr Bevan.

Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said her party would continue to lobby for a relief road for the Rhondda Fach.

"It will be terrible for the local economy if these jobs go.

"The factory is on the site of the last pit in the Rhondda to close. It will be difficult to attract new firms because of the chronic infrastructure problems."