JOB losses have been announced at a mid Essex milk bottling plant as part of a rationalisation programme at a nationwide dairy.Arla Foods is closing down the glass milk bottling line at its dairy at Hatfield Peverel with the loss of 30 jobs.

JOB losses have been announced at a mid Essex milk bottling plant as part of a rationalisation programme at a nationwide dairy.

Arla Foods is closing down the glass milk bottling line at its dairy at Hatfield Peverel with the loss of 30 jobs.

The plastic milk bottle plant will remain unchanged at Hatfield Peverel. The glass milk bottling line at the company's dairy in Nottingham will handled the volume cut from Essex.

The job losses are the result of the merger last year between Arla Foods UK and Express Dairies. A further 280 posts will go through the closure of a dairy at Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, in July.

All the job losses are subject to consultation. If the plans go ahead the positions at Hatfield Peverel will go in May.

Adrian Thompson, director of human resources at Arla Foods said: “We regret the need to announce the proposed closure of the glass bottling line at Hatfield Peverel dairy. We will be helping affected employees with a comprehensive programme of support.

“Those affected by this announcement are being advised today and the employees' trade union representatives are being consulted. Our intention is to give full support to affected staff to help them find alternative employment, subject to the consultation process.”

The outcome of a further review of production and distribution facilities is expected to be announced in October, Arla said.

In addition to home milk delivery, the Express side of the business supplies fresh cream and other dairy products to major supermarkets.

Leeds-based Arla UK distributes milk and dairy products, including Lurpak and Anchor butter.

The company plans to achieve cost savings from the merger of around £20 million a year.