There's further bad news on employment this week as workers in a County Antrim haulage firm are made redundant.

Despite being told just five weeks ago that their jobs were safe, the staff now face a bleak Christmas as the company – which had gone into administration – is now closing with the loss of 200 jobs.

Reid Transport Ltd in Cloughmills closed the doors after attempts to sell the company failed.

All the earlier reassurances proved to be hollow: "All of Reids received a letter from managing director, Liam Reid, that there was absolutely nothing to worry about," said employee Sonia McCready."

However, when the workers arrived as normal on Wednesday they were told they not longer had jobs.

The firm, which also has depots in Dublin, London, Manchester and the West Midlands, is now being run by the administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers.

They said every effort would be made to secure redundancy payments for the workers before Christmas.

PricewaterhouseCoopers' Garth Callow said the failure to find a buyer meant they had no option but to close the business and "implement an immediate redundancy programme".

"A small number of workers are being retained to assist with an orderly run down of the operation, but drivers and sub-contract drivers already on the road have been asked to complete their current journey and they will be paid for this work.

"This is a particularly difficult situation so close to Christmas, particularly when there is no prospect of saving the company and the jobs," said Mr Callow.

The rapidly escalating cost of fuel - which shows no sign of slowing - may well have been a factor in both the company's initial failure and in receiver's inability to find a buyer for the business.

(BMcC)