IN this column yesterday, we spoke of the Faithful City's most famous export - Worcestershire Sauce - and how moves by its owners, HP Foods had, we hoped, secured the firm's future.

Our story on today's Page 23 appears to confirm that.

We also said that, just behind Lea & Perrins' product, the city's second-most famous export is Royal Worcester Porcelain.

Now, it would seem, that is also under threat.

A leading city employer for more than 250 years, Royal Worcester has played a great part in putting the city on the global map.

Sadly, like many similar companies, Royal Worcester has hit hard times. The firm shed around 100 jobs at the end of 2003 and, it would appear, is about to lose 130 more.

A statement released by the company yesterday said that due to "restructuring", these positions "may be affected".

Workers have taken this to mean the jobs are to go.

If this is the case, the plant will have lost almost half its workforce in little more than a year.

This is extremely bad news, not just for the families of those who find themselves out of work, but for the city as a whole as well.

Yes, we understand that businesses have to adapt to current market conditions.

But, if there is any way in which these jobs could be saved, we urge Royal Worcester to do so.

If it carries on in a similar vein, we could see Worcester without Royal Worcester within a couple of years.

And that is unthinkable.