Staff at Midland Meat Packers in Crick, Northamptonshire, had been warned to expect redundancies last November.

The factory - one of the largest meat packers in Europe - has now ceased production, and most workers will lose their jobs.

A further 800 people working in haulage and pet food production at the site are not affected.

Tough decision

Thirty-five Midland Meat Packer workers are moving to other jobs within the parent company, the FW Baker group.

A handful are remaining at the site to wind down the business.

Chairman John Baker said the decision had not been taken lightly, but the company had been badly affected by the BSE and foot and mouth crises.

He said the loss of its major contract left the company with no alternative but to close that part of its business.