Asbestos factory opening delayed

Blue asbestos was found at the Omni-Pac factory

The egg box factory where airborne asbestos was discovered last year will not open again until April - two months later than planned.

The Omni-Pac factory in South Denes, Great Yarmouth, was closed on 27 October when the Health and Safety Executive was alerted to a possible problem.

Inspectors found blue asbestos in lagging materials at the factory had been disturbed, making it more of a risk to health.

Omni-Pac had hoped to re-open in February, but an assessment of the asbestos removal work still to be done has revealed it will take longer to make the premises safe.

The company has said it is committed to the factory in Great Yarmouth.

Spokesman Peter Lewis said: "The clean-up operation continues, with 80 people working to get the factory up and running again as soon as possible."

Mr Lewis said when the factory opened in April, there would be 24-hour production.

"Moving to round-the-clock production means a significant change for our employees, but it is a change we need to make to continue to supply customers and thereby keep jobs here in Great Yarmouth," he said.

"We will, of course, discuss these changes with our employees."

The company is also asking staff to continue their work placements both on and off the site.