ONE of Blackburn's biggest employers is cutting a quarter of its workforce.

Plastic mesh firm Netlon is the latest East Lancashire employer to blame problems with exports caused by the strong pound for the 85 job losses

The firm also said that the collapse of Far Eastern economies and the poor summer had hit sales in its gardening market.

"This decision has not been taken without great regret but we have been through a detailed and carefully considered study and regrettably see no alternative solution," said chief executive Roger Duckworth.

"We are of course working to develop alternative markets and will be in a position to take advantage of what we hope will be a better summer next year." Consultations with unions and employees has now started.

In 1996 the firm axed 30 jobs blaming Government cancellation of roadwork schemes.

Netlon was founded in 1959 by Dr Brian Mercer who invented the plastic mesh production system. The firm was sold in a management buy-out in June 1994.

The job losses are the latest in a string of announcements from local firms increasingly feeling the effects of the pound which makes exports to other countries dearer and imports cheaper.

With East Lancashire's economy having one of the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the country, the area is being hit hard.

The recent closure of Barnoldswick carpet yarn manufacturer Lontex Industries led to 109 losses, plans for 70 redundancies have been announced at Imperial Home Decor in Darwen, 18 people could lose their jobs at Edward Taylor Textiles, Darwen, more than 20 at upholstery firm Buoyant in Nelson, and 33 at Scapa Filtration in Haslingden and 60 at Hoyle Butterworth of Waterfoot.

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