A PIZZA factory is set to axe 77 jobs after bosses announced plans to move production to a state-of-the-art topping plant.

Bosses at Hazlewood Pizza, on the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, have announced that a new site on Deeside, North Wales, will absorb the work carried out in Pendle.

Employees were today told that efforts to identify options for continuing production at the site have proved unsuccessful.

It is anticipated that it will close by mid-March.

Hazlewood Pizza, in Kenyon Road, was the company's first dedicated topping plant for Canadian Pizza, which was the forerunner of Hazlewood Pizza.

It was established in Pendle in 1990 and the site carries out the topping of pizza bases packaged for shops and supermarkets.

The company also has sites in Deeside, Salford and Runcorn.

A factory in Bedford closed down last year and its production was also transferred to Deeside, which has become the main site for Hazlewood Pizza.

Consultations have begun with the 77 employees and the company has said it will take all possible steps to assist those affected to find other jobs, including relocation wherever possible to other company sites.

The most likely relocation would be to the company's Salford site, which includes a topping factory and bakery.

Hazlewood Pizza managing director Peter Woodall, said: "We very much regret having to take this decision but in today's extremely competitive market it is essential that we offer our customers the most up-to-the-minute and cost effective production facilities if we are to retain their business.

"Despite every effort, it is clear that the Nelson factory will increasingly fall short of customer standards and requirements due to its geographic location and restricted space for expansion or modernisation.

"In the current economic climate the company cannot justify further investment in the Nelson factory. Every effort will be made to find re-deployment opportunities at other Hazlewood sites. We will be discussing with the works council how best we can help employees find alternative work."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice said: "I am obviously concerned.

"I want to know the reasons why these jobs are moving from my area to Deeside.

"I shall be contacting the company about this regrettable decision to see what I can do.

"If the jobs are lost, I shall do all I can to help the workers find alternative employment."