Almost 70 jobs are under threat at Kent brickmaking firms.

There are 35 job losses at Lower Halstow and a Sittingbourne factory is being mothballed, with 34 men laid off on basic pay for the next five months.

The dramatic slump in house building has been blamed for the shock decision to close the Funton brickworks at Lower Halstow.

Up to 35 jobs will be shed and the operation could be finished by the end of the year.

The other 34 workers affected are at

Wienerberger’s Smeed Dean factory on the Eurolink Industrial Estate.

They are being laid off on basic wages from next week until the end of February.

Wienerberger human resources manager Ian Botterill, said: “We have announced an extended shutdown period and are laying workers off on protected earnings from October to the end of February.

“We have more than enough supplies to meet customer needs.”

Ward Cllr Ben Stokes has promised to help in any way he can, saying: “It’s very disappointing news and I sympathise with them all.”

The company has 19 other factories across the country.