More redundancies as manufacturing ends at Denby

Manufacturing is to cease at renowned pottery firm Denby and a further 49 workers have been made redundant, administrators have said.

Denby Pottery - established in 1809 - appointed administrators on 31 March after it said it had struggled with rising energy and labour costs.

Administrators FRP Advisory said it had "not been possible to secure a buyer for the manufacturing operations" and a "difficult decision to close the business' making and design departments" had been made.

The BBC understood about 80 workers had been laid off earlier this month. Administrators said they were "supporting all affected employees with claims to the Redundancy Payments Service".

Tony Wright, joint administrator of the Denby Group and partner at FRP, said: "This is another very difficult day for the skilled workers at Denby and we understand how devastating this news will be for those affected and their families.

"Unfortunately, despite extensive efforts, we have been unable to find a buyer for the manufacturing operations and have had to take this difficult decision.

"We remain in discussions with interested parties regarding other parts of the business and continue to do everything we can to support affected employees through this process."

Former CEO Sebastian Lazell said rising energy costs had left the company operating at a loss.

More than 40,000 people had signed a petition for the pottery firm to be included in the government's British Industry Supercharger financial support scheme - which provides relief from electricity costs for firms in sectors like steel and chemicals.

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