A FAMED Bolton sweet factory closed today with the loss of nine jobs.

Roocrofts (1923) Limited, in Topping Street, Halliwell, ceased trading after last-minute negotiations for a buy-out failed.

The family business had been bought out by the Bolton-based Cohens Group two years ago.

Discussions had been ongoing into the middle of the week for another nearby manufacturer to take over the company, but these failed. The closure means nine workers, including Theresa Cunniff who's worked there for more than 60 years, have been made redundant.

To mark the end of the firm, which had its origins in Merehall Street in 1870, a banner was raised outside its Halliwell premises.

It states: "Farewell to Roocroft 1900-1998. 200 years service between nine of us."

One factory worker said today: "Everyone is very upset about what has happened. There are people here who've worked for the company all their lives.

"We found out about five weeks ago but we were actually told that the we were going to close on Monday. We'll all be finished at lunch-time."

At its peak, a million sweets were produced at the factory to be exported to countries such as Australia, Sweden, Italy and Germany.

The firm was renowned all over the world for production of its Tics liquorice pellets.

Pharmacists Anwer Patel and his brother, Yakub, who own the Cohens Group took over the firm in 1995 after David Roocroft, the then managing director, retired after more than 40 years in the company.

Steve Wild, financial controller for the Cohens Group, said: "Regrettably the business will cease trading today.

"There had been hopes up to the middle of this week that we could sell the business as a going concern but that has fallen through.

"We hoped we could salvage the jobs by selling it to another manufacturer in the vicinity but that has not worked out.

"Some people have worked for the company all their lives. They have been an incredibly loyal workforce and this is no reflection on all their efforts."

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