Pfizer does have long-term plans for its site in Sandwich despite the announcement it is cutting up to 240 jobs.

This was the reassurance from the management team during a meeting with the town's MP, Steve Ladyman.

Mr Ladyman visited the site the day after the company revealed it was axing between five and eight per cent of its research staff worldwide.

He said: "We discussed the long term future of the site and they told me Sandwich was indeed part of Pfizer’s long-term planning and all the areas of research conducted there will continue.

"I stressed the need for as much of the downsizing to be done voluntarily and for those people who had to go to be treated as generously as possible. The management team promised they would do so.

"We also looked at how Pfizer, myself and the local agencies could work together to create new opportunities in the area in the long term.

"I intend to do everything I can to help those people who are faced with losing their job now but also to do everything I can to help Pfizer move forward so that one day we can again see more job creation on that site."

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