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| Ayrshire hit by major jobs blow | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| One of Ayrshire's biggest employers is to close and relocate to Northern Ireland with the loss of at least 220 jobs in the area. | |
| BBC Scotland has learned the Hyster forklift plant in Irvine will go through a phased closure, ending in January 2009. | |
| About 120 staff are expected to be kept on at another location in Ayrshire. | About 120 staff are expected to be kept on at another location in Ayrshire. |
| The US-owned firm has had a plant in Irvine for 50 years. Parent company Nacco blamed the high cost of sterling. | The US-owned firm has had a plant in Irvine for 50 years. Parent company Nacco blamed the high cost of sterling. |
| Staff have been told of the decision and the closure was confirmed to local Labour MP Brian Donohoe. | Staff have been told of the decision and the closure was confirmed to local Labour MP Brian Donohoe. |
| 'Grave situation' | 'Grave situation' |
| Mr Donohoe said he was "surprised" at the move. | Mr Donohoe said he was "surprised" at the move. |
| He told BBC Scotland: "This is a very serious blow to the local economy. | He told BBC Scotland: "This is a very serious blow to the local economy. |
| "I was led to believe not so many weeks ago that we were looking a different situation, where Irvine was going to fairly heavily feature in the plans for Nacco in the future. | "I was led to believe not so many weeks ago that we were looking a different situation, where Irvine was going to fairly heavily feature in the plans for Nacco in the future. |
| "It's a very grave situation we're facing as far Hyster itself is concerned in Irvine." | "It's a very grave situation we're facing as far Hyster itself is concerned in Irvine." |
| The MP said it was also particularly bad for the area following the loss of other key manufacturing jobs. | The MP said it was also particularly bad for the area following the loss of other key manufacturing jobs. |
| The Simclar Group electronics group closed two factories at Irvine and Kilwinning in Ayrshire at the start of the year, with the loss of more than 400 jobs. | The Simclar Group electronics group closed two factories at Irvine and Kilwinning in Ayrshire at the start of the year, with the loss of more than 400 jobs. |
| Scottish Enterprise has been alerted to the Irvine closure plan. | Scottish Enterprise has been alerted to the Irvine closure plan. |