An historic Walsall foundry is to shut shedding around 150 jobs, it was announced today.

Ductile Wesson at Victoria Steel Works, in Moxley, will begin closing down on April 3, shutting the door on 200 years of steel-working history.

A further 30 jobs will be cut from a 175-strong workforce across three other sites in Willenhall, Tipton and Brierley Hill.

A small number of workers will stay on at the 13 acre foundry, in Bull Lane, to see out orders before its final closure later this year.

Bosses today said the credit crunch had hit the company hard. It buys and rolls steel to supply to industries including automotive, hydraulic and engineering.

Sites in Planetary Road, Willenhall; Peartree Lane, Brierley Hill; and Bagnall Street in Tipton, will remain open.