Up to 60 workers face redundancy at Paramount Foods Ltd, a pizza manufacturer on Deeside Industrial Estate, while 10 jobs are to be axed at Saffil Automotive in Holywell.

Paramount Foods has recently been taken over, but say that this is not the reason for the job losses.

The firm employs 689 workers at its Deeside and Salford branches, and a spokesman said: "Paramount Foods announced the potential risk of about 60 redundancies in the company and spoke with employees on Wednesday.

"We have now entered a 90-day consultation period, whereby the company is working alongside the trade union and elected representatives.

"The potential job losses are due to a decline in sales."

Saffil Automotive employs about 120 workers, and the company says worldwide problems in the automotive sector is behind its redundancy programme, which began on January 17.

Mark Dunn, site manager, said: "Due to the global downturn in the automotive sector, Saffil Automotive Ltd UK has reviewed its business operations at its Holywell site.

"As a consequence, a redundancy programme has unfortunately had to be initiated from January 17, which will affect a total of 10 employees."

Saffil is a part of the Dyson Group plc, which has a group turnover of more than £60 million and employs about 1,000 people worldwide.

The company produces exhaust systems products.

Workers were informed of the decision last week, and a worker from Saffil, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "Nobody has been informed directly if they are going to be made redundant, all managers are in meetings this week to decide who goes, and we will be informed in due course.

"All members of production were issued with a letter to formally announce the redundancies.

"I believe I will be made redundant. Production has gone downhill for the last few months and most people could see the redundancies coming. There is a lot of unrest at the moment."

The company says it is committed in offering redeployment support to those who will be affected.

The latest blow to the county's manufacturing sector comes after the loss of more than 80 jobs at Greenfield nappy factory Arquest.

Managers at Arquest confirmed earlier this month that all 81 workers at the plant had been made redundant and that the site would close by the end of March.

The decision to close the factory was due to the loss of a major customer.

Administrators Ernst and Young LLP were called into Arquest and 12 of the workers at have now been made redundant with immediate effect.

Arquest has been in business for 20 years and is one of the Greenfield area's major employers.

Delyn MP David Hanson said he was concerned at the announcements.

He added: "Any job losses are always difficult for employees and their families. What we have to ensure is that the right support packages are in place to help get people back into work.

"Unemployment across Delyn remains low at 2.3 per cent. In fact the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the last year has gone down by over 13 per cent.

"The government is working with business to support industry and continue to create new jobs here in North Wales. The Deeside hub area, which includes Flintshire, has had the fastest growing economy in the UK over the last 20 years and with improved transport links from Flint and Wrexham the future looks very positive.

"Indeed, this week I am speaking at a seminar in Mold promoting local employment partnerships to local employers as a way to get disadvantaged people into work and help the Government reach its target of full employment."

Are you affected by the job cuts?
Share your story by leaving a comment below or emailing digitalnews@nwn.co.uk.