MORE than 150 workers at a factory on Sheppey may lose their jobs. Twyford Bathrooms has announced that discussions are taking place over the reduction of output at its Queenborough site.

This could result in the gradual winding down of the facility over the next 18 months, with production possibly closing r in the second half of 2003. In January 2001, Twyford Bathrooms became part of Sanitec, the European sanitaryware manufacturing group. Now, as part of an ongoing strategy designed to guarantee Twyford Bathrooms competitiveness in the future, it has been suggested that products produced at the Queenborough site could be manufactured elsewhere in the group.

There are currently 161 employees at the site. The company says consultations are taking place with the GMB union and workforce representatives.

One employee, who has asked not to be named, stressed: "The majority of the people have worked at Twyfords in Queenborough, between 10 and 30 years. I have a family to support and now I've got to start looking for another job. We have had no warning of this happening. However, we were suspicious that something might happen as Sanitec didn't appear to be investing in us."