Workers fight closure

The Selkirk factory's assets are to be sold off

Workers from a Barnstaple factory that was suddenly closed on Monday are holding a meeting outside the gates.

The meeting outside the Selkirk chimney making factory will partly be to share the trauma that has hit the 180 staff.

It is the latest firm in a growing list in north Devon to fold in recent years.

North Devon Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey will be talking to the men and women at the gates.

Rescue talks

He accused the receivers Deloitte and Touche earlier this week of being premature in closing the factory.

He and local councillors are trying to unravel exactly why the company has gone down, despite high hopes of finding a buyer.

Meanwhile, business leaders and the administrators are still believed to be considering any possible rescue package.

Ian Gordon of the T&G Union, said that about 500 jobs would be affected if all the firms that relied on Selkirk were taken into account.

He said: "I feel that the receivers have not acted in the best interests of the firm's creditors, or anyone else.

"It's about keeping manufacturing jobs in Devon.

"So many firms have closed down round here, it's like the Bermuda Triangle."

"This is a marvellous product that we have been making for 30 years, so why let it go down?"