STAFF at lingerie manufacturer Nelson IA faced an anxious wait today to find out more details of job cuts at sites in Burnley and Pendle.

The company, previously known as Swegmark, is closing its Barnoldswick site on September 22 with the loss of all 45 jobs.

It is also shutting its site in Coal Clough, Burnley, and moving work from there and the company's head offices on Whitewalls Industrial Estate, Colne, to a new, yet-to-be decided site in Nelson.

Details of how many job losses the move will mean for staff at Colne and Burnley were due to be announced by managers today.

A total of 250 people are employed at the three sites.

Staff leaving the factory on Crows Nest Industrial Estate, Barnoldswick, last night were putting a brave face on the decision. But staff representative Irene Scott, who has worked at the firm for eight years, said: "It's going to be a blow to everyone here and quite difficult for them to get other jobs. There's a lot of women with kids who were working part-time.

"It's not going to be easy for them to find other part-time work.

"Some expected this to happen but I didn't. It came as quite a shock."

Irene said she had been told 21 machinists plus staff from other departments were expected to lose their jobs at Colne.

She did not know how many jobs are going in Burnley.

It is understood local TV, video and hi-fi shops chain Harry Garlick has expressed interest in taking over the Barnoldswick factory.

Barnoldswick councillor Margaret Bell, chairman of Pendle Council's West Craven area committee, said: "It's a big blow to the town and it's awful for the people involved who are losing their jobs."