FEARS that up to 100 jobs could be lost at a Horwich firm have been lifted.

Workers at Horwich Castings, Chorley New Road, had feared large scale job losses were in the pipeline.

But in an announcement today, the company said 16 employees would lose their jobs during the next 30 days - plus five temporary workers whose contracts have been cancelled.

However, Amalgamated Engineering Union representative George Tomlinson warned that more jobs could go at the foundry if trading does not improve.

Horwich Castings currently employs 190 people in its high volume iron foundry.

The company has been badly affected in its export markets by the strength of the pound.

Sales have also been squeezed in the company's traditional market - supplying steel to the railway industry - as a result of high stocks and delays in major infrastructure projects. More than £1 million has been invested on new production and environmental equipment in the past two years.

The company grew steadily during the 1990s and was taken over by the Phoenix Timber Group in December last year.

Managing director David Fearnley said: "While there is currently a great deal of uncertainty over the level of orders within the manufacturing industry , we are convinced the high calibre of the management, which has been strengthened recently, together with our flexible, well-trained work force, will enable us to win new customers and orders in future."

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