NEARLY 300 workers at a Gwent manufacturing firm will definitely lose their jobs by the end of the year.

Pontypool firm Trico Ltd, which employs 350 people, will start its reduction in manufacturing immediately and will cease all production by the end of the year.

Blaenavon councillor, Thomas Huish, works in the packaging department of the firm.

He will be part of the second phase of job cuts, expected around June.

"Everyone is very frustrated at the moment. People have been left in limbo because they have other jobs to go to but have been told if they leave now they will have no chance of any redundancy package," he said.