A JOB-STARVED corner of the North-East has been left reeling by the shock closure of a factory with the loss of more than 100 jobs.

Weeks of speculation were ended last night when kitchen worktops company Vertex in Shildon, County Durham, announced that it had called in receivers.

The news is a further devastating blow for an area still trying to recover from 950 job losses at Black and Decker in Spennymoor and the closure of Lafarge UK's cement works in Weardale, where 150 people were made redundant. A further 80 people lost their jobs earlier this year when clothing company Barbour announced the closure of its Crook plant.

Although attempts are being made to sell the Vertex business as a going concern, the whole 120-strong workforce has been laid off apart from a skeleton staff of 11.

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster said: "It's absolutely devastating. I will be having discussions with the various agencies to see what can be done about this.''

Bill Waters, Sedgefield Borough Council's lead member for regeneration, said: "This has come as a complete shock. We will be seeking urgent talks with the company."

Angry workers, who have not been paid for almost two weeks, waited outside the factory on the George Reynolds Industrial Estate yesterday demanding answers.

One man said: "I have been a loyal worker and have never taken a day off in 13 years and this is the thanks I get. I was told by text message from a friend this morning.

"We knew something was going on but they always had an answer for everything. They have told us the rest of the workforce will find out that they are being made redundant by letter on Friday.''

The factory's managing director, Joe Martoccia, said that the company's quick demise came after its gas supply was cut off last Friday. "We were unable to recover after that," he said. "I can understand any bitterness the workers feel. My colleagues and I have been working night and day to save this business and communication has not been what it should and I apologise for that.''

The factory was bought by Vertex, which was originally based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, from Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds last February.

The Shildon business was then brought out of administration by a management buyout team led by Mr Martoccia in December.

A spokesman for receivers KPMG said: "The receivers have already been contacted by interested parties and are hopeful that the business will be sold as a fully operational unit. Preliminary discussions have taken place.