WORKERS at Netherton’s Rolls Royce plant last night told how they felt betrayed by the decision to close their factory.

News was first broken to union reps at 1.30pm, half an hour later the shop floor was told and at 2.30pm office staff were informed.

After finishing his shift at 4.15pm, Joe Birch, 57, a Unite union rep at the factory, said there were many workers like himself who would be made redundant for the second time from the same building, if the closure went ahead.

“We are stunned, even though we have been aware of what’s been coming; when it actually happens, it shocks you.

“I suppose anger will come later, but it’s only sinking in at the moment,” said the grandfather.

In 1970, six months after completing his five-year apprenticeship, Mr Birch was made redundant when the English Electric-run plant closed.

He has worked at the factory as a welder for seven years this time round, but also worked at the plant between 1996 and 1998 when it was owned by Coopers Energy.

Fellow shop steward Dermot Finn, 49, has worked at the factory for eight years.

He said: “It’s not as if it has come out of the blue, but we are still shocked.

“The timing does not help, even though the redundancies will not start until after Christmas.

“There are guys who have been working here for 30 years, and now their time will be taken up in The George, in Crosby, instead of training lads here.”

Another worker in his 50s, who asked not to be named, said: “There is a terrific workforce here. We do a better job than America. We feel we are just being thrown on the scrap heap, but mainly it’s the loss of manufacturing jobs pouring out of Britain.

“I feel very betrayed, we have worked very hard to increase productivity and cut costs and the company has not listened to what we say.

“The plant is falling apart, the roof leaks, and the company just can’t wait to get out of here and over to America.”

Another worker said: “Some of the people here in their late 50s are not going to be able to get a job.”