MORE than 100 jobs are set to be axed after a paper firm announced plans to close an historic mill.

DS Smith Paper wants to shut Hollins Mill, Hollins Road, Darwen, by the end of 2012 following a ‘detailed review’.

As well as making the 116 employees redundant, the move will end production at a site that has manufactured paper since 1845.

The decision will allow DS Smith to concentrate production at its three other plants, in Devon, Kent and Somerset.

Darwen MP Jake Berry said: “This is a lot of jobs to lose and I am certainly very concerned.

“I will be in contact with management to see if there is any way that the business in Darwen can be saved to protect those jobs.

“I believe the area is creating jobs but losing this many in one go creates a real challenge for the town.”

DS Smith, formerly St Regis, said it had begun a minimum 90-day consultation with staff over the plan, including talks with union Unite.

The Darwen mill produces white top testliner paper which is used to manufacture packaging.

DS Smith said it had undertaken a ‘detailed review of the business’ but had to close Hollins Mill because of the increasing cost of raw materials.

General manager Graham Plummer said: “We have explored all the options to keep Hollins Mill viable for the future and I greatly appreciate the efforts that everyone at the mill has made to improve its performance.

“However, I regret that in view of the difficult market conditions and increasing costs, we can see no alternative other than to propose the closure of the mill.”

The company said it would help employees search for alternative jobs.

No-one from Unite was available for comment yesterday.