MORE than 50 jobs have been axed from a Michelmersh brick manufacturing site.

Just 27 out of a previous 80 production staff members remain at the Michelmersh Brick Holdings company site in the village.

After 175 years of doing so, the company has also confirmed that it has now stopped making handmade bricks and tiles at the site.

Instead, the majority of its handmade projects will now be undertaken at its Charnwood plant in Leicestershire.

Chairman of Michelmersh and Timsbury Parish Council, cllr Bob Davis, said the loss of the history behind the company was ‘terrible’.

One member of staff, who worked there for more than ten years, said the employees found out 50 members of staff would be losing their jobs shortly after they returned from Christmas breaks.

The company blamed rising costs for the redundancies and said that they tried a number of things to stop the company having to axe so many positions.

A statement from the firm said: “Despite a number of initiatives, the Michelmersh site was unable to counter the rising costs of producing bespoke handmade bricks and tiles.

“Consequently, the factory has had to cease its handmade production operation, which has sadly resulted in a number of redundancies.

“The Michelmersh site will continue to focus and invest in the core Hampshire stock machine manufactured bricks, which are in greater demand from this factory and will secure 27 jobs.

“The group will now produce the majority of its handmade bricks at its Charnwood plant in Leicestershire.”

One worker, from Romsey, who did not want to be named, worked there for more than ten years.

He said: “On our first week back after Christmas, they told us that 53 of us would be let go in five weeks.

“We had a consultation period where we decided who would go and who would stay.

“The majority of us older workers stepped aside for those with mortgages and young children.

“It’s 175 years of history just suddenly gone, they were a major employer for the whole area.

“I’m Romsey born and bred so I know what it meant to Michelmersh.”

Chairman of the parish council, Bob Davis, said he hoped those who had lost their jobs could find work elsewhere.

He added: “It’s the loss of a huge employer and their bricks are used in many buildings around the area.

“I am saddened to hear of those who have been made redundant and hope the 53 former employees can find some work elsewhere.

“We are sorry to see that go from the village area after so many years.

“It is terrible news to discover.”