THE last operational part of the historic Paton and Baldwins legacy will be lost from Darlington today, making more than 40 people redundant, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Part of the company’s former offices in the town, now owned by Coats Crafts, are to be shut down with the loss of 44 jobs.

The offices are the last direct legacy from the Paton and Baldwins wool factory, in Darlington, which employed more than 4,500 people in its Fifties’ heydey.

Much of the site, on the town’s Lingfield Point, has been regenerated into offices by developer Marchday, but the loss of the last direct link with Paton and Baldwins was last night called a sad day for Darlington.

The closure of the office operation comes only months after Coats Crafts closed its leased warehouse with the loss of 37 jobs last July. Work was transferred to its warehouse in Germany.

It is understood the company’s office staff have been offered the chance to relocate to its operation in West Yorkshire, after being under consultation over redundancy since late last year.

A source at Coats Crafts told The Northern Echo: “The employees have been under consultation since late last year after an announcement was made in October, but their last day is today. There will be 44 people affected by this, which is obviously devastating for them. Work has been offered in West Yorkshire, but very few have taken it up.

“With the legacy of Paton and Baldwins and the significance it has in the town, this will obviously be a sad day for Darlington.”

A worker at the offices, who did not want to be named, said: “When the warehouse closed in July, even though they said the offices would stay open, we became a bit nervous.

“ I think we knew then what would be next. It is devastating news, and while we were offered relocation, it definitely isn’t feasible for me and isn’t for the vast majority of others. With so few other jobs out there at the minute, it couldn’t really have been a worse time.

“We are all aware of the Patons legacy in Darlington, and there’s quite a few of us who are second or even third generation of our family to work there, so there’s a lot of personal history as well as its significance to the area.”

■ Anyone affected by the redundancies at Coats Crafts, or anyone living in the Darlington borough who needs business or employment advice, can contact Darlington Borough Council’s business engagement team on 01325- 388687 or email business.

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