Anger at job loss firm China trip

Gregory Campbell said the move was absurd

A German-owned company is taking part in an Invest NI trade mission to China, despite last week shutting down its Limavady factory with 70 job losses.

Huco Lightronics is retaining 12 staff for sales and administration.

An Invest NI spokesman said Limavady staff had pulled out of the mission and Huco paid all costs to participate.

Local MP Gregory Campbell said it was "absurd" that Invest NI resources were being used with none of the resulting benefits reaching Northern Ireland.

Huco Lightronics has been making vehicle and lighting electronic parts in Limavady since 1989, and has participated in a number of previous Invest NI trade missions to China.

Last week's announcement that it was pulling out of the County Londonderry town was the latest blow for jobs in the north-west, coming on the back of 900 people being made redundant by Seagate.

Mr Campbell said it "defied logic" that Invest NI had invited Huco to take part.

"The unfortunate irony is that yesterday, I met with Invest NI and a Limavady firm looking to expand - they were looking to get assistance to buy land, but they can't get this help," he said.

"A company about to close is getting assistance by going on a trade mission to China but a local family business so far can't get help - it's a bit anomalous."