THE factory that produces Vimto Soft Drinks in Golborne near Leigh is set to close with the loss of 60 jobs.

Drinks company Nichols, best known for its Vimto and Sunkist drinks, has confirmed it is closing Vimto Soft Drinks in Golborne.

Staff at the Stone Cross Park factory have entered a 90-day consultation period.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham has been in talks with the company, he said: "It is disappointing given that it is a new factory on a new industrial estate which only opened in 1998.

"I have some serious concerns about the way this process has been handled. There have been suggestions that the final decision had been made before the statutory consultation period began.

"I have not been at all happy with the attitude the company has taken, when you are dealing with people's livelihood it is not acceptable. I have referred the case to Alan Johnson, the Trade and Industry minister."

A further 130 redundancies are expected through the company's plans to relocate its Stockport operations to an existing factory at Haydock.

A spokesman for Nichols said: "The aim is to relocate many of our staff to the Haydock site, but we estimate around 190 redundancies.

"Naturally, we will do all that we can to help our employees through this difficult period of time for all concerned."