Jobs at risk as Stokes Forgings to close part of factory

A historic metal firm is closing part of a factory in the Black Country - leaving up to 100 workers facing the dole, it was revealed today.

Stokes Forgings Ltd, which was founded 102 years ago, will shut its hammer forging plant at the end of February.

The business, based in Vine Street, Brierley Hill, makes car parts for the automotive industry.

It has blamed a fall in trade and rising production costs for the decision. Between 50 and 100 jobs are expected to go at the firm, which employs 220 people.

All of the hammer forging plant's 26 staff are set to lose their posts, and some of the 64 staff in the press forge are also expected to be made redundant.

Managing director Ian Young said the job losses would be spread across the firm, including some at its other site in Cochrane Road, Dudley.

Mr Young today said the hammer forging plant had been "running well below capacity and losing money for many years".

Mumbai-based Mahindra & Mahindra bought 98.6 per cent of the former Stokes Forgings' equity in 2006.