WORKERS facing redundancy at Plymouth's troubled Toshiba factory have told The Herald of their anger.

Many members of staff whose jobs may be cut said they were upset and shocked by the news.

Most spoke anonymously fearing any comments could affect the redundancy process – some will be fighting for the 50 remaining jobs at the factory.

Electronics giant Toshiba has announced it is to axe 270 jobs at the factory in Ernesettle.

Many staff were said to be in tears and one woman reportedly collapsed in the car park following the news, which brings to an end 28 years of manufacturing in the city.

Toshiba bosses stressed the plant would not close altogether, but just 50 workers will be retained as the firm concentrates production in Poland.

But that news didn't stop Jason Tuvey, a production operative, from fearing the worst.

The 28-year-old said he would go into work today with a 'feeling of the unknown'.

He said: "It is compulsory redundancy in my case. I have been there for nine years and I'm worried the redundancy payout won't be enough.

"Everyone is gutted. We heard rumours beforehand but it was a shock when we were told."

Mr Tuvey said he and his colleagues were called into a meeting at 10.15am on Friday and, within minutes, knew of their fate.

He said he is expected to work until July – and then find another job, which would be 'really hard during a recession'.

Toshiba employs 321 people at the Ernesettle site – most of them working directly on TV production, all of which is to cease. A 30-day statutory redundancy consultation begins today, but staff told The Herald it was inevitable 270 of them would be looking for new jobs at the end of July. Those employees kept on will provide manufacturing and engineering expertise to the Polish factory, as well as handling the refurbishment of returned products.

Andy Bass, managing director of Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd, said on Friday that the company 'deeply regrets' the job losses. The company said the Toshiba Corporation headquarters, in Japan, had decided to centralise European TV production at its factory in Kobierzyce, Poland, to reduce costs.

A 45-year-old worker at the factory, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "This news affects my family. It was an awful day on Friday. Really upsetting."

One man from Ernesettle, who has worked at the factory since it opened on May Day, 1981, said he was in tears for hours after the announcement. He said: "I was just stunned. Then I cried when I got home. It was such a shock for everyone.

"I've worked there 28 years and suddenly this happens. How do I get a job now?"

A comment on The Herald's thisisplymouth.co.uk website said: "To all my fellow workers, all the best for the future. I hope we all have better luck.

"It seems even being the best factory Toshiba had in the world didn't even save us."