by Jamie Stephens

Hundreds of Pfizer staff will learn their fate at the doomed Sandwich plant in May.

The pharmaceuticals giant has confirmed a "significant number" of staff have been informed their jobs are at risk.

But they won't know their fate until the end of a 90-day consultation process, which is completed on May 1.

In February, the pharmaceutical giant announced plans to close its research and development plant in Sandwich with the loss of 2,400 jobs.

The shock decision is part of a global programme of changes which it says will accelerate Pfizer's long-term research and development strategy.

But the news came as a huge blow to employees of the company, which has had a presence in the area for more than 50 years.

The pull-out is expected to have a huge impact on the East Kent and wider Kent economy.

A statement on the redundancies said: "Colleagues will receive notice of redundancy at different times dependent upon factors, including critical business needs.

"We can confirm that the earliest a colleague could be served notice of redundancy is May."

But bosses said they had no immediate plans to close any of the Sandwich buildings.

Pfizer intends to fully quit the site before the end of 2012.