BOSSES behind the collapse of one of the world’s oldest cable makers are a “disgrace” for keeping workers “in the dark”, it was last night claimed.

Ducab, the owner of AEI Cables, has been accused of badly treating workers by refusing to give clarity on the company's future.

A former worker at the site, based in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, told The Northern Echo staff were left “dangling” because the company refused to tell them anything.

However, AEI Cables denied the claims, saying all staff were “fully aware” of the business position.

Last week, it was confirmed 200 jobs will go at AEI with manufacturing stopping at Birtley.

The company will become a sales-only business with 13 staff at a yet to be confirmed location.

The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said all the staff knew the place was “finished”.

“I took the job for security as when I got interviewed, I was told the company has never been in better shape and the future was bright.

“We got told in September about possible redundancies the following month and the date came and went.

“There was another meeting but it never clarified anything up.”

GMB Union has called for a full investigation into Ducab, which bought AEI in 2014, after accusing them of neglecting their duties over staff pay-outs.

The union also raised concerns that staff were told their jobs were secure before Christmas, describing the company as “shambolic” and a “scandal”

The worker confirmed: “We got a letter over Christmas to attend a meeting on January 3 and we were told the place was shutting down.

“The factory was full of rumours because they just wouldn’t tell us anything.

“When we were first told about possible job losses the union asked to look at the books to see where losses were coming from and the company said no.

“I think the whole work force knew the place was finished."

A spokesperson for AEI Cables said: “Monthly briefings with all staff and union members have taken place over the last year or more.

“All staff are and were fully aware of the business position, and full consultation on the potential changes started in September 2016 at which time union participation was invited.

“Since the acquisition of AEI Cables from the administrator by Ducab in February 2014 significant investment has been made in the site, with all funding coming from Ducab – supporting more than 200 jobs for nearly three years.

“The company tried for almost three years to make the loss-making business a success - there has been no meaningful improvement in financial results or productivity over this time.

“We will be providing all the advice and guidance we can to those being made redundant.”