CONFIRMATION came this week that 70 jobs have finally been saved at Woodeaves as The Citizen exclusively predicted three weeks ago. A deal with a construction company - believed to be worth £800,000 with Newton Construction - was credited with saving the jobs. The factory have sold the Caton Road site to the construction company - but will lease it back.

Now the management at the company will fact a number of tribunals from former workers sacked earlier this year. Dermot Power, one of the Joint Administrators at BDO Stoy Hayward who have been running the plant since May, commented: "The enthusiasm and the skills of the work force along with the support and assistance from the company's local suppliers helped make the recovery possible.

"A prominent local property developer has entered into a deal with the company which has enhanced cash flow and has also granted the company favourable occupation terms."

He concluded: "The case of Driver Woodeaves is a fine example of the flexible recovery procedures that are now available. Hopefully the new skills which the management team have learned will help them through future rough trading conditions which may arise occasionally in a notoriously cyclical marketplace."

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