ANOTHER jobs blow has hit Gwent with 260 losses at a frozen-food plant. Foxhill Foods, in Rogerstone, will lay off staff just before Christmas. The cash-strapped company has not made a profit for four years.

Yesterday bosses told workers the business will close on December 13. Some will be transferred to sister companies but others will have to find new jobs.

An angry father of two, who did not want to be named, told the Argus: "It's just before Christmas. We're pretty annoyed."

The man, from Newport, said the closure at the Wern industrial estate had shocked employees, leaving many with families to quickly find alternative work.

He added: "I've got a six- and seven-year-old. I'm not going to sit around, I've got to find another factory job."

Foxhill's spokeswoman, Alison Wearne, said the company was no longer "viable".

She added: "This decision has been taken very reluctantly and only after considerable deliberation, following a detailed review of the company's business and operations."

She said Foxhill was up against stiff competition from bigger operations. "Foxhill operates in an extremely competitive environment, and the size of its business is such that it would not be commercially viable to continue," she said.

A manager at Foxhill, who did not want to be named, said employees had worked hard to continue.

The father-of-three, from Ponty-pool, said: "It's been a business decision. "They've worked hard to make it work.

"They would have been aware of the financial situation."

Ms Wearne agreed the closure was not entirely unexpected.

"Foxhill Foods has not been profitable and this will not be a surprise to the workers there.

"Periodic briefing meetings are held throughout the business where performance would have been on the agenda," she said.

Foxhill Foods is part of the Customer Solutions Division of RHM Ltd. It is hoped a number of workers will be moved to firms within the RHM Customer Solutions Div-ision, either Avana Bakeries or RF Brookes, both of which are in Rogerstone.

The company has offered its workers counselling and help to find new work.