Grant cuts force closure of blind workers' factory

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The Royal London Society for the Blind has operated the workshop since

1963. Staff had been due to take their campaign to save the jobs to Kensington Palace, home of the Duchess of Gloucester, patron of the RLSB.

Christine Hardacre, regional director of the union Community, said: "Almost 70 per cent of partially sighted people are unemployed. This decision will effectively put these workers on the scrap heap. This is a disgraceful, callous act performed without consultation and no regard for the needs of the workforce."

RLSB chief executive Brian Cooney said: "This is a very sad day indeed. Management and staff have worked hard to reduce overheads, diversify our business, win new contracts and the RLSB has spent £1.7 million on keeping the factory going over the last five years.

"Continuing cuts in local authority grantsmean the RLSB can no longer afford to keep the factory open. This is a fantastically committed and loyal workforce. The RLSB will do all we can to help them into new jobs."