138 jobs at risk

Proposals are in place to cease production at the RHM Frozen Foods factory, in Beeching Road, next month.

The plans, put forward by parent company Premier Foods, are presently out to consultation. Employees at Bexhill, and at another site in Doncaster, have been placed at risk of redundancy.

Head office and transport employees also risk losing their jobs.

A spokesman for RHM Frozen Foods said: "We have been facing a number of issues in the frozen foods' market including strong price competition, highly efficient competitors and a decline in the overall market.

"Meanwhile, we have accepted an offer to licence our branded ready meals. Regrettably this will mean the proposed closure of our production sites in Bexhill and Doncaster and that our transport and head office operations in Gillingham will no longer be required.

"We will endeavour to identify suitable alternative positions within the Premier Foods organisation to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible."

Affected employees have already been briefed.

Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism spokesman Sue Spice said: "It would be really bad for the town. We need these larger businesses and we find this news distressing. It must be extremely distressing, too, for the work force and let's hope they can find employment in the town."