Two textiles companies in Northern Ireland look set to close with the loss of 260 jobs.
The Derry-based Courtaulds confirmed today it plans to sewing, cutting and other support operations at its factory in Limavady as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
The company is to enter talks with unions to see if there is any way to save the 185 jobs at the factory.
The firm was taken over by US food and consumer products group Sara Lee in March 2000 and union sources claim operations at the plan have been scaled down since then.
In a separate development, approximately 75 staff at textiles manufacturer Invista are also to lose their jobs when it closes the DuPont factory outside Derry.
Invista had taken over the facility but has decided to close it as part of a restructuring programme. The company employs about 500 staff at Maydown.