A major clothing company in Northern Ireland which supplies exclusively to Marks and Spencer announced the closure of one of its factories today with the loss of more than 100 jobs.
The Dungannon-based Desmond and Sons blamed both pressure on high street prices and difficulty in recruiting workers for its decision to shut down its Tyrone plant.
The company said it had entered consultation with the trade unions on its plan to end production at the plant, which employs 106 people in the manufacture of ladies' leisurewear.
It said it regretted the decision, but said it the factory was no longer viable.
A spokesman said: "This is a result of continued consumer pressure on high street prices.
"It has been made worse by severe difficulties in retaining and recruiting workers in Dungannon, with the result that the factory has not been able to achieve the economies of scale necessary to remain competitive.
"The Dungannon factory has recently been operating at only half the capacity it was built for in 1990."
The company, which employed just over 2,000 workers at seven Northern Ireland plants before today's announcement, said other plants were not affected.
PA