FORTY-two staff members of the Mead Webber meat plant at Eardisley have been given notice of the firm's closure.

The plant is facing shutdown following a change in Government meat hygiene standards. John Thorley, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said the plant had obtained a Hygiene Assessment Score of between 75 and 85 points during the last five years. Now it was to receive an unofficial score of less than 60. He said the plant had an annual throughput of some 350,000 lambs and a strategic importance which meant closure would have serious repercussions. The plant needed to remain and to operate without the threat of inconsistent interpretation of Meat Hygiene Standard rules. Mr Thorley is to contact Government ministers.