MORE than 100 factory workers at Westhoughton are facing an uncertain future.

The 125 employees at the Carnaud Metalbox Factory in Chew Moor Lane have been told owners Crown Food Europe is considering closing the plant.

The possible closure at the factory, which chiefly manufactures metal ends to put on food cans, is being blamed on falling demand in the UK can filling market.

No dates for further announcements have been released and the company is now starting negotiations with employees and trade union officials from the TGWU and AEEU.

A Crown Food Europe spokesman said: "Crown Food Europe is considering the closure of its plant at Westhoughton.

"The continuing trend towards two piece cans and easy open ends has led to a reduced demand for classic ends.

"This, together with the decline of volumes in the UK can filling market, makes it necessary for Crown to review structure and capacity in order to maintain its market lead and ensure a continued cost effective service to its customers.

"The company will now start consultations with employees and trade unions."

Over the past couple of years the factory, which opened in 1956, has been hit by redundancies. Since 1999 the number of factory workers have dropped from 260 to the present number of 125.

In January, 2000, the workforce was cut by a third, when 67 staff were made redundant. Job losses at the time were blamed on a lack of new businesses for the firm, which is a leading supplier of food cans in the UK.

Forty five staff were made redundant in February, 1999.

Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson said: "I am very disappointed it may close. In Westhoughton we have lost a lot of manufacturing jobs in the last few months. Added together we have lost between 800 and 900 jobs.

"It will mean even more people will be dependent on service industry jobs."

If the plant did close, Cllr Wilkinson said he feared the land would be sold for housing.

In May this year two steeplejacks died in an explosion in a chimney at the factory. It was believed they had been working on a cradle in the 200-foot structure.