BOSSES at Nestl have been accused of acting on greedy motives with their decision to axe 155 jobs.

Union representatives from the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) angrily blasted management at the Staverton factory for being motivated "solely on the desire to make bigger and bigger profits".

Workers in the desserts factory were left pondering their future after the company announced plans to close part of the plant in February.

Bosses blamed the closure on a long-term downturn in demand for chilled desserts, but union official Brian Revell said he could find no economic reason for the factory to close.

Nestl's decision sent shockwaves across west Wiltshire's economic community.

Mr Revell, T&G national organiser for food and agriculture, said Nestl officials should think again about the impact of their decision on the local community.

"We can see no economic reason for the closure of Staverton, as it is performing well and generating a profit," he said.

"Nestl's decision appears to be based solely on the desire to make bigger and bigger profits by consolidating production from a small factory into a larger one. It is pure greed.

"The loss of jobs as a result of Staverton's closure will have a devastating impact on the local community. We are pressing Nestl to think again.

"Ahead of a meeting with the company at the end of the month we will be making a close analysis of the financial information they have promised to provide us with."

A company spokesman for Nestl said the decision to pull out of Staverton was based solely on the fact the desserts plant had been operating below capacity for the last few years.

She said: "We are currently discussing our proposal with employees and union representatives and we will make no public comment until such discussions are concluded."

Workers have been offered a hefty redundancy package as part of a deal already on the table.

Villagers in Staverton are concerned about what will happen to the factory site when part of the plant closes in September.

Cereal Partners UK a joint venture between Nestl and General Mills will remain on the site, but the parish council has promised to keep an eye on the situation.