Occupied factory's closure delayed

The planned closure date of a wind turbine factory which is being occupied by workers as part of a campaign to save their jobs has been put back.

Vestas Wind Systems was due to close its plant in Newport on the Isle of Wight yesterday, with the loss of more than 600 jobs. A 90-day consultation with the workers was due to end, but employees received letters yesterday saying the timescale had been extended. The extension follows a delay in legal moves to end the occupation of the site, which will be heard by a county court on the island next week. The RMT union said the development was "another massive victory" for the campaign to save the factory. Its general secretary, Bob Crow, said: "[This] gives us a real opportunity to sit down with the Government and the company to work out a solution to save the factory and the jobs."