UP to 80 people are to lose their jobs at the Hoddlesden base of healthcare manufacturing firm Vernon-Carus Ltd after the firm announced it was to close its factory there.

The move was revealed just days after Darwen was hit by the bombshell that Crown Wallcoverings - where more than 270 jobs have gone this year - will close within the next few months.

Bruce Ash, managing director of Vernon-Carus, which manufactures healthcare products such as surgical dressings and swabs for the NHS and overseas companies, said: "The combination of increasing competition from the Far East for medical textiles and the costs of operating an old mill have resulted in the board concluding that there is no viable alternative.

"There will potentially be 70 to 80 jobs at risk of redundancy over a nine-month wind down period during which time alternative opportunities will be explored in the company's two other Lancashire sites at Penwortham and Walton Summit."

Ward councillor Fred Slater said he was devastated by the news that Hoddlesden's main employer was to shut.

He said: "I am devastated. It is the only industry in the village and it will be a very serious loss. There are certainly quite a lot of people in the village who work there and quite a few come in from Darwen.

"It's the last thing we want in East Rural ward because although it is a small industry there are a lot of people depend on it and it is very sad news that this is happening. At one time they were probably fourth best in the country at manufacturing surgical dressings, so it is very sad that they are having to close the factory.

"The Carus family bought everything in the village years ago so it is also sad that the historical tie will come to an end too.

"It will also affect local businesses, like the post office and the fish and chip shop, because the workers regularly go in them and spend their money there."

Darwen and Rossendale MP, Janet Anderson, said: "This is another blow for Darwen coming hot on the heels of the news about Crown Wallcoverings.

"We can't afford to keep losing manufacturing jobs like this and I will be talking to the regeneration unit at the council and the regional development agency to see what help we can get to bring some much needed jobs back to Darwen and the surrounding villages."