Workforce halved at wallpaper firm

The firm makes wallpaper and home furnishings

A wallpaper firm is laying off nearly half of its workforce at a Lancashire factory after receivers were called in.

About 170 workers will be laid off at Crown Wallcoverings, which employs 400 people at its Darwen factory.

Workers were said to be in tears when the news was broken on Tuesday morning.

The receivers were called in on Friday after parent company Imperial Home Decor Group, which makes wall coverings and home furnishing, got into financial difficulties.

A further 22 people are being laid off at the Imperial factory in Morecambe.

Further talks are taking place to find a possible buyer or buyers for the two factories.

The councils in Darwen and Morecambe have promised to try to help workers who are now looking for new jobs.

Crown Wallcoverings is a well-established firm which traces its history back to the 1830s. It has always been based in Darwen.