Union leaders have expressed shock at the threat of job losses through the possible closure of a meat manufacturing factory, writes Alan Jones.

Unite said 270 workers risked being made redundant at a site in Bodmin, Cornwall, operated by Tulip Ltd after a 45-day consultation was announced, ending on December 9.

Unite regional officer Deborah Hopkins said it was a "blow" for the local economy, adding: "Tulip used to be one of the primary employers in Bodmin and the local community will suffer greatly from these losses just before Christmas.

"This gives us a measure of the impact of continuing political and economic uncertainty in Cornwall, causing the ongoing shrinkage of our manufacturing economy. This is another shock wave to the already battered Cornish economy.

"Tulip has described political uncertainty as a cause for its problems and Bodmin will pay the price for this."

Read more: Tulip, Cornish meat producer, sold to Brazilian company