WORKERS at a Burnley pharmaceuticals firm have been given the bombshell news that the company is to close.

Ninety-five workers at Hillcross Pharmaceuticals, Harle Syke, will lose their jobs.

The shut down at Walshaw Mill, Talbot Street, will be carried out in two stages starting on January 1 when about half the workforce at the drug packaging plant, formerly Hills Pharmaceuticals, will be out of work.

The parent company have not said when the second phase and final closure will be.

Redundancies were expected but the news of total closure came as a shock.

A statement released by parent company AAH plc of Runcorn, Cheshire, said the Burnley company was to close as part of a re-evaluation of core business.

The decision did not affect the Hillcross brand which would continue to be available to independent pharmacies.

AAH plc's chief executive Michael Ward, said: "This announcement is made with deep regret.

"The integration of AAH and Lloyds has changed the economics of the Burnley factory and following a full review closure was the only decision open us.''

He added: "However, we are doing all we can to help the Hillcross workforce find alternative employment and have brought in a specialist company to help them do so as quickly as possible.''

The company refused to add to the statement.

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