A NUMBER of jobs are under threat at a major Leominster employer.

Staff at the BPI factory were informed last week that their jobs could be at risk if a planned production move goes ahead in the summer.

The firm has begun redundancy consultations and up to 23 jobs are at risk.

Employees at the factory said they are now unsure as to whether or not they will keep their jobs, and are concerned that further job cuts will follow after parent company RPC made the announcement.

In a letter sent to staff last week, RPC BPI Agriculture operations director Dirk Deweer said: "We have today announced our intention to transfer the manufacture of Wrapsmart and hand roll products from our Leominster site to the Bridgewater site in Somerset.

"The intention is that Leominster becomes a specialised extrusion site and Bridgwater develops as a centre of conversion excellence allowing both sites to benefit from operational efficiencies and help us to remain competitive in these markets.

"Redundancy consultation has begun with trade union and employee representatives at Leominster, where up to 23 employees could be affected.

"We will endeavour, where at all possible, to find suitable employment either within or outside the Group over the coming months."

Parent company RPC Group, one of Europe's biggest plastic packaging groups, hit the headlines last week after it agreed to a £3.34 billion takeover offer from American plastics maker, Berry Global Group Inc.

Directors recommended shareholders to vote in favour of the offer, which analysts say falls below the price per share that the market was hoping for.

RPC BPI have been contacted for comment.