A HISTORIC gardening supplies factory is set to close after more than 120 years in East Lancashire.

Joseph Metcalf, which also trades as Gem Gardening, has been based in Oswaldtwistle since 1887 and employs 60 people.

But now bosses at Lincoln-based William Sinclair Holdings, who only took over the business in January, has announced the closure, blaming their inability to expand their premises into the green belt.

Metcalf's, using the Gem logo, sell countless popular products in garden centres up and down the country including grass seeds, composts and fertilizers.

The announcement was made to shocked workers on Tuesday night. The closure could happen in the next six months and a period of consultation is now underway.

One worker said many staff were in tears as they were told of the news.

The member of staff, who has worked at the company for 19 years, asked to remain anonymous. He said: "We are all distraught. Every single person who works at the company has worked hard to make it a success.

"The Gem trademark is a fantastic brand and it is because of the hard work of the people at the factory that has made it that way."

Bernard Burns, chief executive of William Sinclair, said: "When we bought Joseph Metcalf we were not planning to close it down.

"But you have to be competitive in this market. The option that we were investigating - that of extending the Oswaldtwistle site - depended on getting planning permission.

"But the Hyndburn planning office indicated that it was not likely that the site would be granted the permission we required in the timescale we needed in order for it to be commercially sustainable."

The site in Brookside Lane is bordered by green belt land.

Mr Burns added: "To close a factory is a horrible thing to go through, both for the company and of course the workers but an inefficient plant is not an option we can consider."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said bosses at the firm had been in discussions with council planners in April. And he said that just days ago the council had written to the company advising them on some of the planning issues that they had with the site.

Coun Britcliffe said: "In terms of any firm wishing to expand we always do our best to accommodate them because of the benefit of new jobs.

"Ten years ago when they last expanded I actively lobbied in support of the plans.

"I am very surprised to hear the announcement. It is bad news for Oswaldtwistle."

Joseph Metcalf Ltd moved to its factory in Oswaldtwistle in 1972 after originally being located in Accrington.

William Sinclair Holdings has an annual turnover of £38million and employs 380 people at sites in Lincolnshire, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Scotland