BOSSES at the Philips TV glass factory in Simonstone have apologised to residents who complained about dust coming from waste glass on the site.

Villagers, particularly those living in Bank Terrace and Railway Terrace, feared dust and fibres coming from the Simonstone Lane plant could be damaging their health.

The firm's human resources manager Fiona Eason said the recent dry weather meant more dust was created by the waste glass, which was drained from the furnace when it was shut down last month, ending production at the site.

She said: "Part of the shutdown of the plant over the coming months means we need to remove equipment and materials and we have recently written to the local residents to advise them that this process could take up to 12 weeks.

"Unfortunately, due to the very dry weather, the removal of waste glass, which we are recycling, has created more dust than anticipated.

"We must apologise to the residents for any inconvenience this may have caused. We are working on preventative actions which may include water sprays, additional road cleaning and dust monitors."

Mrs Eason went out to speak to residents about their concerns yesterday and to apologise for the dust.

The firm is meeting environmental health officer Lesley Miller, from Ribble Valley Council, today to discuss the shutting down process and the dust problem.

Lesley Miller, an environmental health officer for the authority, said: "We can confirm that a meeting that had been arranged for sometime is going ahead with the firm. We subsequently received a complaint about dust from the site and we will be raising that at the meeting."

Draining the furnace ended production at the site and the plant is due to be closed completely by September.