A FACTORY offering a lifeline to disabled workers in Medway has closed its doors for the last time.

More than 60 staff based at the Rochester Airfield base of Remploy, the UK’s biggest employer of the disabled, are now seeking mainstream employment.

Bosses said the factory, which carried out small-scale electrical manufacturing work, was losing more than £1.1 million a year.

Remploy chief executive Bob Warner said: “We carefully examined all the options for keeping the Medway factory open, but we reluctantly reached the conclusion that it didn’t have a sustainable and secure financial future.”

A spokesman said: “No disabled employees have been made compulsorily redundant in Medway, and all have been given the option to remain on Remploy terms and conditions, working for another local employer.”

But Paul Maloney, senior organiser for the GMB union campaign to save the Medway branch, said: “It was a sad day for Remploy, and an even sadder day for the staff who have been thrown on the scrap heap.

“This has come about due to the lack of initiative of the Remploy board. It’s absolutely disgraceful.”

A Remploy recruitment office will take the place of the factory to boost the chances of disabled people seeking employment.

The office will offer job-searching facilities and contacts with local businesses.

The closure follows news that Remploy has spent millions on company cars for top bosses. Documents released under a Freedom of information Act show that nationwide, 441 managers and sales staff are driving vehicles worth more than £8 million.

Mr Warner drives a 2.7-litre diesel Mercedes sports car. Many of the managers have chosen to take sports cars, off-roaders and people carriers under the scheme.

Remploy has defended the spending. A spokesman said:“Cars are essential for our employees to do their job of getting out to find work for disabled people, selling to our business customers or getting around our sites.

"If we took away the cars, there would be no jobs for anyone. Bob Warner drives 25,000 miles a year on Remploy business and needs a reliable car.”

Have you been affected by the closure of the Medway Remploy factory? We would like to hear your story. Contact the Medway Messenger by calling 01634 227880, or email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk