KITCHEN manufacturer Magnet is making redundancies at its North-East plant for the second time in seven months.

The company, whose manufacturing and distribution site in Darlington was involved in one of the longest strikes in history, said it was making 19 redundancies as it continues to fight off the effects of the recession.

The firm cut 17 jobs in June last year, as part of an efficiency drive at the site, which employs about 700 people and has seen significant investment in the recent years.

Redundancies on both occasions have been made in the plant’s manufacturing division.

Its distribution centre, which is the biggest in Magnet’s UK operation, is not affected.

Last night, a Magnet spokesman said the move was extremely regrettable, but stressed the firm’s commitment to Darlington, where it has had a presence since 1973.

Consultation between senior management and the plant’s works council is under way, with voluntary redundancies being sought initially.

The company said people affected would be notified by Wednesday.

The spokesman said: “We have explored all possibilities to try to avoid redundancies and it’s extremely regrettable that we have to make these cuts. The business, however, remains fully committed to manufacturing in Darlington.”

An employee, who asked not to be named, said: “We haven’t noticed work tailing off or anything, in fact we’ve been quite busy. It has come as a shock, but after the redundancies last year, it always makes you consider the possibility that you could be next.”

Magnet’s Darlington site, on Yarm Road Business Park, was renowned for being at the centre of a bitter 21-month dispute in 1996.

More than 320 workers were involved in the strike, and were sacked for walking out in a dispute over pay and conditions.

However, since then, and under new parent company Nobia, the Darlington plant has progressed, with more than £6m invested since 2005.