Outraged protestors have pledged to fight the shock closures of two historic Chorley firms with the loss of almost 300 jobs.

The axe fell on both Euxton's Royal Ordinance plant and Adlington's AMEC site in end-of-an-era announcements by their owners within days of each other.

BAE Systems-owned RO on Euxton Lane is to close by the end of next year, ending 67 years of proud munitions' manufacturing in the area.

The announcement on Monday was the second jobs bombshell for the borough after AMEC revealed on October 26 it was closing its Adlington offices on Church Street, with the loss of 200 jobs which are to be transferred to Birchwood, Warrington.

BAE chiefs said the 70 munitions manufacturing jobs at RO were being made redundant to cut costs.

The other 130 engineers and support staff who work at the site would be re-located elsewhere in the area.

A defiant Jack Wilson, leader of Chorley Borough Council, condemned the decision, saying: "I would impress upon the management of the company that we as a council will do anything we can to prevent them from moving out."

He said he would be seeking talks with their management as soon as possible.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, said he was appalled by the decision and called on the company to reconsider.

He said: "British troops have been dependent on supplies made in Chorley, they trust British-made ammunition.

"What concerns me is where the Ministry of Defence is going to get it from in the future. Is it going to go abroad like everything else?"

Steve Rowbotham, BAE Systems' managing director land systems munitions, said: "We regret having to reach this decision, and recognise the impact it will have on our employees and the community.

"We will work very diligently to mitigate the impact of these losses and will ensure the process is handled professionally and sensitively.

"Additionally, we appreciate all the support given by the local community over the years."

The RO site was completed in 1939, covering 928 acres with 1,500 buildings. It had its own railway station and bus services.

In its heyday, during the Second World War 35,000 people were employed there, working day and night to produce bombs that helped defeat the Nazis. It was said to be one of the biggest munitions site in the world.

But it suffered hundreds of jobs losses in the nineties.

Ron Ralph, regional officer for manufacturing union Amicus, said: "This is another disaster for manufacturing in Chorley."

Richard Hardy, of Prospect, the union for defence professionals, said his members were very worried about their jobs and pensions, and members were being consulted on industrial action.

In March this year mother-of-one Linda Wilkins, 47, of Western Drive, Leyland, was killed while handling explosives at the factory.

After the tragic incident production was ceased, but BAE said limited production has now re-started.

Despite taking into consideration the cost and the timescale it would take to make the factory fully operational again, the company said the decision to close the factory was as a result of a strategic review.

An inquest into Mrs Wilkins death has been opened and adjourned.

A worker, who asked not to named, said this week as he entered the factory: "We have been expecting it since the accident, it has not been the same."

Meanwhile, Adlington is mourning the loss of engineering and construction giant AMEC.

AMEC was formed in 1982 when Adlington firm Fairclough merged with the William Press Group. Fairclough was founded in 1883 as a stone masonry business.

Labour MP Mr Hoyle said he would be meeting with Amec bosses next Tuesday and Friday to discuss ways of keeping the Adlington office open.

He described the decision as "despicable" and slammed the firm for not informing him as he attended a lunch to celebrate AMEC's success in London last Tuesday - less than 24 hours before the shock announcement.

He said: "I want them to reconsider. They are throwing away the history and the loyalty of the people of Adlington without compassion."