Jobs lost as chimney factory closes

The Selkirk factory's assets are to be sold off

Nearly 200 people are to lose their jobs with the closure of a north Devon company.

Selkirk Manufacturing Ltd, which makes gas vents, chimneys and exhaust systems, is being wound up by receivers Deloitte and Touche.

The Selkirk factory on the Pottington Industrial Estate in Barnstaple went into administration two months ago.

The receivers had been looking at bids to take over the business as a going concern but none of them were high enough.

Redundancy notices

Deloitte and Touche announced on Monday the Barnstaple factory would close and the assets would be sold off.

Redundancy notices are being issued to the 180 staff working at the plant.

Some 15 workers will be kept on for the time-being.

it really is bad news, not just for the employees in Selkirk, but the area in general Ian Gordon, employee

Employee Ian Gordon, who has worked for the company for 30 years, said: "The receivers have worked tirelessly to try and get a buyer, but, unfortunately, just couldn't. So, we're all out of work now.

"They've kept on a skeleton staff, as I understand it, basically to prepare machines for sale and tidy up in general.

"But it really is bad news, not just for the employees in Selkirk, but the area in general."

The area has suffered substantial job losses recently, with the closure of the Croydex factory in Barnstaple.

There have also been redundancies at the Clarks Shoes factory in the town, plus the departure of Thomson IBL at Whiddon Valley.

Tim Jones from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council said: "It's been a very difficult time and it does make the whole picture of the North Devon economy look rather difficult. It certainly needs some help.

"We have to look to government and to the Regional Development Agency for a concerted campaign to try and improve the situation."