ONE of Blackburn's oldest companies will make 29 workers redundant. The Cherry Tree Machine Company, which has been trading for more than a century, said that the loses will come from the shop floor, clerical and administrative posts.

The laundry and textile machine manufacturer moved to the Walker Industrial Park in March from Green Lane.

The changes mean that further floor space will be released and the company will now consider diversification into other areas of laundry and textile machinery.

As part of the board's decision to review the overall position and structure of the Harbury Group, which incorporates six specialist engineering companies, decisions have been made which have resulted in the reduction of management and workforce numbers.

The company aims to concentrate on marketing efforts in areas which will provide maximum growth with a confident future.

Managing director Kirk Forrest, who only took up the post two months ago, said: "The cost savings brought about by the redundancy of such a large proportion of our workforce will help ensure survival of the UK's only manufacturer of large capacity industrial washing machines."

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