TSUNAMI IN ASIA: WORKERS at a Trowbridge factory were told they could not stop the production line to mark Wednesday's three-minute silence for the tsunami disaster.

Factory staff at cosmetics firm Peter Black on the White Horse Business Park have blasted bosses for their decision.

One worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "Today tens of millions of people around the world downed tools for a three-minute silence in respect of the thousands of unlucky souls who perished in the tsunami disaster.

"Sadly myself and my fellow workers were unable to do so as our request to halt production for three minutes was refused. I think that it is disgusting to show such arrogance to the outside world for the sake of a few pounds.

"I hope that the people who made this decision never have to go through one tenth of the anguish and pain that the victims and their families have had to endure. A few moments to reflect on how lucky we are was all we asked for.

"Peter Black, you should be ashamed of yourselves."

Peter Black human resources officer Lisa Saunders said: "It was just a business decision. In the factory the decision was taken to do that, but in other departments like ours they held a silence.

"What we decided to do was send out some aid to Indonesia instead. We are looking at sending out a certain amount of toothpaste and soap from our obsolete stock."