In another body blow to Newton Abbot's economy and job front, one of the town's long established firms looks set to close it's doors.

Aircraft Materials Ltd, which has been in Brunel Road since 1948, is set to move to Bridgend, South Wales.

The company employs around 90 office, engineers, design, accounts and shopfloor workers, who were given the bombshell news on Monday.

They have been told the 'probable plan' is to move to South Wales and there is now a 30-dayconsultation period. There are no unions involved and negotiations are proceeding via works committees.

It is understood all the staff are being offered places in the new location, but that few are likely to 'up roots' and start a new life.

AML manufacture cargo handling components for military transportation and aerial delivery, and is part of the Airborne Systems group.

If AML moves it would be consolidated under one roof in Bridgend with sister company Irvin/GQ.

There is disappointment for the workforce in the Brunel Road factory because the company has had a steady order book.

In April, AML laid off a dozen workers and because it dropped below the 100 figure it only has to give a 30 days consultation period to the workforce.

One worker said it had been rumoured for sometime that the company was moving to Wales.

'While we were half expecting it, it is still a bombshell when it happens. Everyone is dedicated here and this is the thanks we get for it.

'A lot of people have been here for many years and the last thing they want to do is move their families away from an area they like,' he said.

Originally, the company was called Seliac and made mobile food kitchens for the army.

It later became AML and during the Gulf War in 1991 it took on extra staff who were working around the clock to produce the airborne logistics supplying hardware such as special structures and pallets for goods dropped from the air to the ground forces.

No one at the company was available for comment yesterday morning.

The latest revelation is yet more grim employment news for Newton Abbot.

Just before Christmas engineering firm Centrax announced that 30 shopfloor workers were to go, at a time when the town was already reeling from the disclosure that the University of Plymouth is to close Seale-Hayne College.