End of an era at Royal Doulton

The Beswick factory is closing six months early

Two of ceramics firm Royal Doulton's three remaining Stoke-on-Trent factories are closing.

A total of 550 staff are affected either through redundancy or transferral from the company's Beswick and Baddeley Green sites.

Friday's closures leave Royal Doulton with just one factory in Stoke-on-Trent, its plant on Nile Street.

The Beswick factory is shutting six months earlier than planned.

Royal Doulton is shifting much of its production abroad.

Managers blame foreign competition for the closures.

Royal Doulton employs about 4,000 people worldwide.