Decision due on Bridgnorth Novelis jobs

Union officials are optimistic a decision over bids to buy part of a Shropshire factory, which could save more than 100 jobs, is imminent.

Caroline Crolley, Black Country regional industrial officer for the union Unite, said a decision on three bids to buy part the Novelis site in Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, was expected soon.

The aluminium foil and packaging plant is due to close at the end of April with the loss of up to 319 jobs.

The union official said that although management locally had not heard any news on the bids, she understood from one of the bidders that the company was deciding which one to accept.

She said: "We are just waiting to find out. The decision is imminent on which company has been successful. It is at a very difficult stage. I have been positive from day one and optimistic that we could save at least part of the site."

She revealed that at one stage there were "serious talks" about a management buyout but that did not come to fruition.

But the union official warned: "There are still going to be redundancies. We will not be able to avoid some but hopefully it will not be 100 per cent." Novelis makes aluminium rolled products and recycles drinks cans in 11 countries.