Staff action on factory closure

Workers at closure-threatened Nightingales factory shop in Craven Arms have been urged to get together and form a fighting group.

Nightingales women's clothing company has called in administrators and the jobs of up to 80 staff members now hang in the balance.

Bosses at Nightingales, which has its headquarters in Craven Arms, have blamed poor trading conditions for the crisis and are hoping a buyer can be found to save the business before any of the jobs are axed.

Former councillor Claude Bodenham, who fought for the regeneration of Craven Arms during his time on the council, has pledged to lend any support he can.

Mr Bodenham said: "The workers need to form an action group and lobby their present councillors, who in turn need to lobby the Regional Assembly and Advantage West Midlands to see if there can be some finances to keep the factory going until a buyer is sought.

"But I will be here to help in any way I can because we cannot lose such a loyal, local staff."

Councillor Sharon Demos, South Shropshire District Council member for Stokesay, said the situation was a huge concern as a councillor and a resident of the town.

"If we lose the business those people who work there will need to find new jobs and they may have to go as far as Shrewsbury or Hereford and we will miss out locally," she said.

"There are plans to build lots of houses here and people living in them will need a place a work."

Fraser Gray and Peter Saville, partners at Kroll's Corporate Advisory and Restructuring Group, have been appointed as joint administrators and are trying to seek a buyer.