UP to 300 workers at a Westhoughton kitchen firm fear losing their jobs just weeks before Christmas.

Staff at Bernstein Group Holdings Ltd (BGH) say they have been told the company would be applying to the courts to go into administration.

One angry worker said: “It’s a big worry that 300 people will lose their jobs just before Christmas.

“We don’t know what’s going on. They just called us all together and told us. They said it was the economic climate.”

The company mainly manufactures kitchens and bedroom units from its factory in Silburn House, Great Bank Road, on Wingates Industrial Estate, Westhoughton.

The Bolton News made several attempts to contact company chairman Bill Gleave, finance director Andrew Coveney, logistics director Gavin Kellitt and managing director Tony Fox but they did not return calls.

Cllr Zamar Ahktar, responsible for housing and regeneration at Bolton Council said: “We have heard the company has called in the administrators and I have asked the officers to contact the managing director but they have been unable to do so.

“It is very sad news and we will do everything we can to help residents of Bolton to find work or retrain through our partners, mainly JobCentre Plus.”

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