Anger as firm sheds 230 jobs

More than 200 jobs are being axed at the Aldridge base of a national parcel freight company, it was revealed today.

Every single one of the 230 workers at the headquarters of Netfold, which trades as Amtrak, in Northgate Way will be made redundant after the firm went into administration.

Staff will be kept on while the firm is wound down, a process expected to be completed by the end of this week.

The Express & Star revealed the company's difficulties yesterday, but after talks between senior bosses it was decided to stop trading and cut jobs.

Remaining deliveries will be completed by the administrators said spokesman for Ernst and Young, Adam Holden.

The news has had a knock-on-effect for firms reliant on Amtrak. Stuart Pridgeon, who owns SP Delivery Services, provided drivers for Amtrak from his agency in Lincolnshire. He said: "I have had to let around 20 drivers go because of this. It was my main contract."

Amtrak operates two distribution hubs in Aldridge and Warrington together with 36 depots across the UK, employing over 900. Joint administrators from Ernst & Young were appointed by the directors over the bank holiday.