Final production for glass plant

The last day of glass making is taking place at a Sunderland factory.

French-owned Arc International is closing its plant in the Pallion area of the city at the end of next month.

The last gob of glass will be removed from the factory's furnace on Friday. It will then be manufactured into Pyrex tableware at the factory.

Half of the firm's 240 staff are leaving on Friday, with the remainder staying until closure. A distribution centre is being retained at the site.

The company blamed spiralling UK energy costs when it announced its closure plan in January.

It said the plant had suffered losses over several years and had lost £760,000 in 2006 alone.

The move ends 85 years of Pyrex production at the site.