STAFF at a Nelson factory which will close with the loss of more than 150 jobs today said they were dismayed by the decision to shut the site.

And a leading councillor in the town and former employee said he was devastated Smurfit was closing ending its 40-year presence in Nelson.

The Evening Telegraph yesterday reported how the Edward Street factory, which makes paper-based packaging products, is expected to stop production by the end of August laying off 151 workers.

And today worried employees said they would have to find new jobs as soon as possible.

Carl Jones, 46, who lives in the Gannow area of Burnley and used to run his own TV repair business, has worked at the firm for three years. He said: "Its really going to affect me. All the people are very dismayed. They just don't know what they are going to do."

A worker who did not want to be named added: "Everybody is coming to terms with what has happened but it is going to be difficult. I have a mortgage to pay so I am going to have find a new job quickly."

The closure follows a review by the company after its merger with the Irish-based Kappa group last year. Smurfit-Kappa now has 30 plants across Europe.

Some staff have been offered the chance to relocate to the firm's other sites in Stalybridge, Cheshire and West Auckland, County Durham.

Staff have also received advice about training courses from colleges across East Lancashire and a job club has been set up.

Chairman of the Nelson committee, Coun David Foster, who worked at the site between 1974 and 1983 said it was not only important employees got help finding new jobs but the borough had to diversify its industry, particularly tourism.

He added: "I'm devastated, it's a major blow for the area.

"We must try to get these people back in to work in the area and also look for other industry to come on to the site because it is a large industrial area."