China clay redundancies announced

China clay is mainly used to coat and whiten paper

A china clay firm in Cornwall is to make about 100 compulsory redundancies out of a potential 600 job cuts.

Managers at Imerys said hundreds of staff had already found new jobs, and others had taken voluntary redundancy.

The company, which used to employ about 2,000 people, has started to wind down operations at Par Docks as it prepares to move some of its business to Brazil.

Part of the docks will close later in the year, but a firm of consultants is exploring the area's future.

International property consultant DTZ has been commissioned by Restormel Borough Council in partnership with Imerys, the Regional Development Agency (RDA) and Cornwall County Council, after fears the hundreds of jobs lost at Imerys would impact severely on the local economy.

Leisure development

Imerys spokesman Ivor Bowditch told BBC News there were several options being considered.

"The end uses could include further commercial development of brownfield sites or perhaps a leisure development," he said.

"In Par, some people have identified the possibility of a marina."

Fowey harbour has also seen a reduction in business for pilot boats, resulting in the loss of some jobs.

Imerys is the world's largest producer of china clay, which has various uses, but is mainly used to whiten and give a glossy coating to paper.