JOBS crisis talks have been put on hold at a Bolton factory.

According to union chiefs at Edbro, the Great Lever tipping manufacturers, redundancies were due to be announced last week.

But this morning management had not made any statement on job losses.

Already half of the 380-strong workforce are believed to have been put on a two-and-a-half day week and 35 temporary staff were released at the weekend.

The firm's recent troubles are due to a slump in orders.

Works convenor Teddy Hughes said the situation at the factory remained the same.

"Further meetings with management have not been arranged and until then we will not be making any statements."

Management were not available for comment.

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