WILTON was dealt a crushing blow this week, as one of the town's largest employers laid off more than half its workforce.

American-owned Woven Electronics Ltd has made 51 members of staff redundant, following a sharp drop in profits over the past few months.

Only 31 people have been kept on, to continue with its manufacturing operations until a new owner is found.

KPMG was appointed joint administrators of the com-pany, last Wednesday.

David Crawshaw, of KPMG Corporate Recovery, said: "The business has made losses - so, in order to continue trading, it became necessary to make some redundancies, to lower the cost-base.

"We are now seeking a purchaser of the business and assets of the company as a going concern, and have a number of interested parties.

"In the meantime, the company is continuing its manufacturing operations."

Woven Electronics, in Burcombe Lane, specialises in the design, development and manufacture of cable harnesses and electromechanical equipment.

At its peak, in the late 1990s, it boasted an annual turnover of £4m and had more than 100 people on its payroll, mostly from the surrounding area. Mayor of Wilton Keith Male said he was very concerned to hear so many local people had been made redundant.

"I hope the people who have been laid off can find suitable employment quickly and that something can be salvaged from the remaining firm," he said.

"Perhaps they will be able to go back there - but, in the meantime, I hope they can find something soon, and that it doesn't cause them too much distress and hardship.

"Woven Electronics has been part of Wilton's environment for a while and it would be sad to see it close completely.

"I really hope they can find somebody to take them on as a going concern."

Woven Electronics started life as Eurotech Electronics, in Andover, in 1981.

Two years later, it moved to Dunns House, Salisbury, before switching to Wilton in 1984. It was part of Woven Electronics Corporation Inc, an American firm based in South Carolina, when it went into administration last week.

Salisbury district councillor Peter Edge, ward member for Wilton, said the company had appeared to be prospering.

"It seems to be a clear case of asset-stripping by a multinational company," he said.

"They've just run it into the ground."