Egg box factory owners face court

Asbestos was found at the Omni-Pac factory in October 2003

Owners of an egg carton factory which closed after asbestos was found in production areas, are to be prosecuted under health and safety laws.

American owned Omnipac of Great Yarmouth closed in March last year.

The owners are to face health and safety charges at Norwich Crown Court and in a statement said they intended to plead guilty to the charges.

Margaret Holmes from the Transport and General Workers union said the loss of the firm was a big blow to the town.

The factory employed 200 people when it closed, but had more than 500 staff when it was running at full capacity producing packaging for fruit and food.

"Industrially the loss was horrendous because Omnipac was one of the largest employers in a town very high up on the unemployment list," Mrs Holmes said.

"The effect on families has been devastating as fathers worked at the plant with their sons and brothers."