MORE than 150 job losses at East Lancashire factories were today blamed on the fallout from the Rover crisis.

And there are fears more could be on the way with hundreds of local employees dependent on the struggling car component industry.

Around 100 job cuts are being sought at Burnley's Viktor Achter site. More possible redundancies are expected to announced there next week.

And Caligen Foam has told workers at its Accrington and Oswaldtwistle sites that it is looking for 59 redundancies.

At Viktor Achter's Billington Road site, workers in the sewing department were told yesterday that up to 100 people may have to go out of the 300 strong workforce.

Further announcements are expected to be made early next week at the firm, which employs a further 300 producing components for seat and manufactures seat fabrics.

Around 25 per cent of the factory's production is destined for Rover cars although it also supplies most of the other main manufacturers.

Human resources manager Dave Salmon stressed that the job loss figures were based on a worst case scenario and that the company was looking at ways to reduce them.

MP Peter Pike said : "This is another body blow for Burnley. This is a company which supplies the car industry where there is a recession, so it is not totally unexpected . "It is bad news, especially for those who lose their jobs and their families. I am sure that the Rover task force which is coming to Burnley to see what to do to help those who have lost jobs at TRW will also look into Viktor Achter. I shall be making representations to ensure that they do."

Workers taking a drinks break on the 2pm to 6pm shift said they were shocked but not totally surprised at the jobs loss announcement.

One said: "We have been expecting something because of the link with the Rover company."

Another said: "We have been told of the 90-day notice this afternoon. Up to 100 jobs could be lost but the company is hoping to make it less than that. We can only hope for the best and to wait and see."

One woman worker who has been with the company for several years added: "There are about 200 of us in the cut, sew and trim department.

"We have been warned that up to half could be affected. People are upset but there is nothing we can do.

"The company has said they will try to work things out the best they can. We have been expected some kind of announcement like this so it is has not come out of the blue."

Caligen Foam, which produces foam for car seats, had warned workers two weeks ago that job cuts seemed inevitable.

"It is a very unfortunate situation and one we are not used to here. The objective now is to see how we can reduce the number affected," said Naz Ghigi, operations director of the firm.

With around 10 per cent of its production ending up in Rover car seats and a further 10 per cent under threat because of customers switching to overseas production, the firm is facing a significant cut in orders. Rover has already suspended production on one of its models and announced plans to halt production on others later this month.

In addition to the uncertainty over future Rover production, there is also a trend by component manufacturers who buy foam from Caligen to move production to locations where labour is cheaper and to source a supplier in those countries.

The cuts are the latest to hit East Lancashire's car component industry. Last month, 450 losses were announced at Burnley's TRW factory.

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