WESTHOUGHTON'S last remaining textile firm is planning to shut with the loss of 47 jobs.

Bosses at fabric manufacturers Ames Europe Ltd today confirmed that they are in negotiations about the closure of the Church Street factory.

Managing director Peter Verhoef would not give any more details of redundancies except to say they are now in a period of "intense negotiations" with the unions about the closure.

News of the jobs going comes after Shiloh Spinners announced 160 redundancies earlier this month and the Yates Group confirmed they are losing 37 jobs from their Manchester Road, Bolton, headquarters.

At the weekend travel giants Thomas Cook revealed it is shutting 100 travel agencies in a bid to balance the books following the collapse of travel bookings in the wake of the US terrorist attacks.

It is not yet known whether any local branches of the company will be among those going.