THE dream of a workers' co-operative became a reality yesterday when

Barrhead Sanitaryware was officially opened at Hillington by Scottish

Office Industry Minister Allan Stewart.The company was born after

Armitage Shanks pulled out of Barrhead after 150 years and the workers,

with the help of local and central government, started their own firm.Mr

Stewart said: ''Today's event represents a very special achievement.

''Everyone here will remember the gloom that was felt in January last

year when Armitage Shanks announced that it had decided to close its

factory in Barrhead.''That announcement spelled the end of a very long

tradition of ceramic manufacturing in Barrhead, and it carried the worry

of unemployment for everyone who worked at the factory. The plant was

duly closed in April 1992.''Barrhead workers have certainly shown their

mettle in the way they have responded to the adversity into which they

were plunged.''Many other individuals and organisations have helped the

workers to translate their plan into reality. But my first tribute is to

the Barrhead workers themselves, for the determination and sheer courage

that they have shown in getting their plan off the ground and for the

personal financial commitment that they have all made to this venture.''