Factory's closure hits 250 jobs

Gemfire is a fibre optics company

An electronics firm has closed down its West Lothian factory with the loss of 250 jobs.

Gemfire, which has two factories in the US and one in Livingston, told its workers that they were out of a job on Wednesday.

Livingston MP Jim Devine told the BBC Scotland news website the fibre optics company was blaming the credit crunch for the closure.

No-one at Gemfire was available for comment.

Mr Devine said: "When they all turned up at work yesterday they were told to put their coats back on again as the factory was shut.

"I am absolutely outraged about this as they have treated their staff like 19th Century pit owners.

"I spoke to the chief executive and he happily told me that UK laws were a lot looser than in America and their advice from their QC was tell the staff they have to go.

"I have been told Livingston was the best producer of the three factories."

He said he had asked the company for a letter outlining the reasons for its closure.