THE final closedown of Wincanton Logistics' milk collection depot in Wootton Bassett has been signalled by the departure of 12 of the remaining 18 drivers.

The job losses on Monday were part of the company's restructuring after losing the milk delivery contract to Express dairies.

But there was no indication of the speed with which it would happen.

A furious row then broke out after the remaining six drivers turned up at the site next to the Wootton Bassett St Ivel depot on Tuesday morning only to be told they were no longer employed by the company and should seek work with the new contractor, Express dairies in Frome.

But they were turned away by that company and on returning to the depot found it closed and they had no idea what was happening about redundancy and entitlements from Wincanton.

Wincanton spokesman Charles Carr today confirmed the depot had closed, and insisted that all issues over pay had been resolved.

"The drivers will receive their full entitlement," he said. "We recognise they have worked well and shown tremendous loyalty staying right up to the end and we are delighted to announce that all problems have been sorted."

One long-serving driver, who did not wish to be named, said: "The way we have been treated by the company is appalling.

"Some drivers here have given more than 20 years' service and 90 per cent of us have been here for more than a decade.

"In the past couple of years we have been driving to farms in the Gloucester area, Hereford and Birmingham, to collect milk for delivery to Wootton Bassett for yoghurt production, which we understand is due to finish at this site at the end of January.

"There will be no more farm collections from Wootton Bassett, and it is very sad, both for us and for the town."

The depot, known by generations of families in the town as The Dairy since it opened in Station Road in 1908, employed more than 100 milk collection drivers as recently as 1994.

The Transport and General Workers Union is looking into any problems the drivers may have.

In June Wincanton reported that despite uncertain markets and restructuring, it had seen a strong performance for the year ended March 31.

Turnover was up 3.3 per cent from £721.8 million to £745.6 million, with pre-tax profits up 17.8 per cent from £21.9 million to £25.8 million.

Graeme McFaull, managing director, consumer logistics, said: "Swindon is important to Wincanton.

"We have three major clients in the area WH Smith, Woolworths and Safeway and look to build on these long-established relationships further.

"The town's position on the M4 corridor, and its access to the motorway network, means it is of strategic importance as it is well positioned to service our clients' operations both regionally and nationally."