WORKERS at a Pontypool factory which is set to lose a quarter of its workforce spoke of their anger and shock at the job losses announced yesterday.

Later editions of yesterday's Argus revealed that Trico, at Skewfields, is shedding at least 100 jobs.

To save costs, the company is to shift component manufacturing for its windscreen wiper products to Asia and the USA, but will retain Pontypool as an assembly and distribution centre.

Trico has started the 90-day statutory notification period required when an employer is to make 100 or more staff redundant.

It is seeking voluntary redundancies, but if these are not forthcoming the firm will make them compulsory.

One worker, who did not want to be named, said: "I've been working here for ten years and it has been quite a good job. I'm far too young to retire and I haven't told my wife yet. It's a shock, but I'm hoping that my job is safe."

A second said: "Why has it suddenly become a bad idea to manufacture wipers in Pontypool?"

Dave Ludlow, head of economic development at Torfaen council, said: "It's very disappointing that the company is relocating its manufacturing production, and devastating news for the workers.

"It will also affect the local economy.

"We will pull together all the support agencies to help the workers find new employment or start their own businesses."

Lib Dem Assembly Member Mike German said: "This is another blow for manufacturing in South- East Wales and I'm desperately sorry for the workers affected.

"I'm also worried about the plant's future as an assembly and distribution centre because it would surely be cheaper to assemble the wiper blades wherever the components are going to be made."

In October 2001 Trico, which belongs to engineering giant Tomkins plc, attracted a regional selective assistance grant from the Assembly due to planned investments in the Pontypool site.

If the company has not fulfilled its obligations under the terms of the grant the money will have to be repaid.

An Assembly spokesman said: "We were aware of the commercial pressures Trico was facing but we did not know about the timing of this announcement. The company has fulfilled the obligations of its RSA grant, and we will work with it to identify new markets for its products to help secure the future of the Pontypool site."

President of Trico Products Dave Cumming said: "To remain competitive we need to achieve some economies of scale, and so we're going to consolidate wiper component manufacturing at our plants in Texas and New Mexico, and at a partner's plant in Asia.

"But the Pontypool site remains important to us as an assembly centre and we will continue to serve our customers from there."