More than 100 jobs under threat at military safety gear factory

More than 100 jobs are at risk at a Scottish factory which manufactures safety equipment for the military.

Gentex has announced proposals to close its plant at Stranraer where 111 people are employed and to make "changes" at its Letchworth site in Hertfordshire.

It said the move was part of plans to centralise its UK operations in a new facility in Haydock, Merseyside.

The firm said no final decision had been made but eligible employees would be paid until the end of next year - even if they are made redundant earlier.

Local MSP Finlay Carson said the loss of 111 highly skilled jobs in the area was "hugely significant".

"This is not simply another company restructuring," he added. "It represents one of the largest private sector job losses our area has faced in recent years."

He called for an urgent, co-ordinated response from the Scottish government, Dumfries and Galloway Council and agencies including South of Scotland Enterprise.

He said: "We must use the time available to ensure affected workers are supported into new opportunities and that every effort is made to attract replacement investment to the area."

Gentex produces safety equipment like helmets, headsets, visors and oxygen masks for the military, law enforcement and other industries.

The factory has a long history in the town, where it was previously owned by Top Tek, which manufactured helmets for Kangol.

From 1983, it was operated by Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd (HISL) before being acquired by Gentex in 2014.

The news was broken to staff at Stranraer and Letchworth earlier.

Andrew Wilde, senior director of operations at Gentex, said: "Our long-term European growth opportunities and customer needs are outpacing our current UK facilities, so we have conducted a detailed review into how we grow our operations."

He said they proposed consolidating their UK activities at Haydock, subject to a formal consultation process.

He added: "If the proposal proceeds, this would result in the closure of our Stranraer facility and changes at Letchworth, with a number of roles at risk of redundancy. The proposed transition would take place in phases over the next two years.

"We know how hard this news is for our colleagues in the UK and their families, and it's no reflection on them or their work. We're committed to protecting the pay of eligible affected employees through at least the end of 2027."