AROUND 80 jobs could be lost at a leading engineering plant in Hereford.

Special Metals Wiggin has been doing “everything possible” to win a bigger share of available business, but order levels have decreased.

Bosses say they don’t believe trading conditions will improve “for some considerable time”.

“Following discussions with many of our major customers, we do not believe that there will be any significant improvement in market conditions for some considerable time and we must react to this situation whilst we have scope to do so,” said personnel manager Robert Hunt.

“To this end we have started consultations with union representatives on site concerning an anticipated reduction in the hourly paid workforce of approximately 80 jobs.”

The announcement marks a grim few days for plant employees.

Last Friday, two workers were injured at the Hereford site following an accident involving a metal casting machine.