A DAIRY products packing facility is set to close, with 43 jobs at risk.

Arla Foods has announced plans to transfer operations from its site in Hampton, Malpas to its Oswestry packing facility.

The plan is part of a cost-saving programme by the Danish-based company, which is putting a total of 154 jobs at risk of redundancy.

Arla Foods' creamery in Llandyrnog, Denbighshire is also set to close, with 97 jobs under threat.

Jobs are also under threat at the company's site in Lockerbie, Scotland.

The plans are subject to a consultation.

Tomas Pietrangeli, managing director, of Arla Foods UK, said: “This proposal enables us to not only drive efficiencies but also retain ample capacity to better meet the evolving needs of our customers in areas such as retail, foodservice and export.

"It’s also critical that we retain our approach to innovation and never compromising quality in our cheese business and we feel that these steps are the best to take to ensure our sustainability.”

He added: “We recognise that this will be a difficult time for all those colleagues impacted by these proposals and our priority right now is to support them to manage this situation as best we can.

"We will now be entering full consultation with all our colleagues affected and their trade union or colleague representatives.”