A WAVE of redundancy announcements hit East Lancashire today as manufacturers were battered by the strong pound.

The job losses are the latest in a string of announcements from local firms increasingly feeling the effects of the pound which makes their exports to other countries dearer and imports cheaper.

With East Lancashire's economy having one of the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the country, the area is being hit hard.

The announcements made this week - adding up to more than 300 job losses - make grim reading and most of the affected firms directly blamed the strong pound.

The closure of Barnoldswick carpet yarn manufacturer Lontex Industries tomorrow will lead to 109 losses, plans for 70 redundancies have been announced at Imperial Home Decor in Darwen, 18 people could lose their jobs at Edward Taylor Textiles, Darwen, more than 20 at upholstery firm Buoyant in Nelson, and 33 at Scapa Filtration in Haslingden.

Earlier this week Hoyle Butterworth of Waterfoot announced it was to close with the loss of 60 jobs.

Lontex Industries called in administrators eight weeks ago and since then they have been trying to sell the business as a going concern. Michael Hall, senior manager, said: "We had a lot of interest but no-one put in an offer so the factory closes tomorrow and 109 people will lose their jobs." The company, which processes yarns for the carpet industry, was bought from ICI in 1990.

Mr Hall said: "The customer base is UK and the world so the strong pound has had an effect but the carpet industry is also having a hard time at the moment."

Wallpaper manufacturer Imperial Home Decor - better known as the Crown Wallcoverings site - announced around 70 employees would lose their jobs.

The firm, which has won a string of top exports awards in the past two years - blamed the strength of the pound and and the Far East economic problems for the losses.

The announcement came just weeks after the firm axed around 50 temporary staff.

The Darwen site produces brand names including Crown, Shand Kydd and Storeys and exports to more than 55 countries.

The firm was recently been bought by American-based investors. A rolling programme of redundancies has been launched at Darwen-based Edward Taylor Textiles in an attempt to fight back against cheap imports.

Up to 18 of a 50 strong workforce look set to lose their jobs in the coming months if business at the Moor Lane factory fails to pick up.

Owner Edward Taylor, whose company has been supplying sportswear, underwear and nightwear for a large number of big high street names since 1956, blamed the move on competition from countries such as Bangladesh and China.

"We have a big fight on our hands at the moment but hope to keep the rolling programme of redundancies to a minimum."

At Buoyant two satellite units in Nelson are to be close and production transferred to the main Hallam Road site.

"These small units were particularly expensive to run and improvements at the main factory have enabled it to absorb the extra volume," said a statement issued by the firm.

Scapa Filtration Europe at Haslingden blamed factors including the strong pound and the Asian crisis for 33 job losses, most of them voluntary redundancies.

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