FOUR hundred workers will be laid off for a week at one of Bolton's biggest companies.

The shut down at Chortex Ltd, Victoria Mill, Chorley New Road, Horwich, has been forced after orders dried up.

The company, which makes towels for Marks and Spencer as well as many other retailers, has blamed a slow down in the economy. The majority of employees are local women.

Managing director Lynn Flatman said: "We are extending the Easter break for another week in response to a slow down in retail demand. But we will be opening as normal after the break."

She added the lay off was part of a strategy to stave off redundancies in the future.

Chortex, a trademark of Stott & Smith, was recognised as an Investor in People only 15 months ago. The company, established in 1904 by the local Taylor family, is now a part of Coats Viyella Home Furnishings group.

Scare

It designs, markets, sells, manufactures and distributes high-quality towel products for UK customers such as Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, House of Fraser and British Home Stores.

Earlier this week there was a scare at the factory when flames ignited in fibres and spread to the roof of mill. But that incident had no bearing on the proposed lay off.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.