ALMOST 200 jobs could be at risk following plans to close a Herefordshire food factory.

Yesterday it was announced Premier Foods plans to close six factories, including its Ledbury site, which makes jam, suet and mincemeat and employs 180 people.

The moves, which follow the company's acquisition of rival RHM, also involves factories in Bristol, Droylsden near Manchester, Middlewich in Cheshire, Reading and Wythenshawe in Manchester.

The firm's chief executive, Robert Schofield said: "Our priority continues to be growing our business and our brands and to do this we need to remain competitive in the market place.

"These proposals will enable us to enhance our efficiency whilst giving us the capability to drive our branded sales growth."

The sites, which employ 1,000 workers, are due to close by early 2009, but Premier said it would offset some of the job losses by creating positions at other factories.

It expects the overall net impact on job numbers to be around 580.

There are plans for investment at its sites in Worksop in Nottinghamshire, Knighton in Staffordshire, Ashford in Kent, Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and Knighton.

Brian Revell, national officer of the TGWU section of Unite, said: "Premier Foods is acting like a private equity company, without regard for the workers who have built these businesses over many decades."