CARGILL in Hereford has given notice to around 140 agency workers at its Yazor Road factory.

The chicken business said the agency workers were all carrying out temporary work for the company between January and May of this year.

A spokesman added: "Although historically, we have offered some permanent employment opportunities to long serving agency workers it is not guaranteed and is dependent on the availability at that time.

"We have been in full communication with the agency regarding the situation and are hopeful to re-engage with these agency workers as opportunities become available in the future."

In March, the company announced it had lost its contract to supply Asda with its breaded and battered products and said from June it will cease to make these products at its poultry processing plant in Hereford, putting 230 jobs at risk.

The spokesman said: "Cargill began hiring more agency workers since November rather than hiring permanent staff in order to prepare for the possible closure of the B&B product line at Yazor Road, Hereford so that there were more opportunities to redeploy Cargill employees should it be needed.

"Cargill has worked proactively with the recognised union throughout this whole process, consultation continues with the unions and employees, with the majority of the redeployments commencing at the end of this week."