IN THE winter of 1976, an £8m cigarette factory opened in Darlington, bringing with it the promise of well-paid jobs and a secure future.

The arrival of Carreras Rothmans was seen as a magnificent plus for the town, with people throughout the region trying to get a position at the factory.

More than 4,500 people from Newcastle to North Yorkshire applied for the 1,000 positions the company had available.

At the time, the Darlington plant, based on part of the former Patons and Baldwins site, was the company's fourth in the UK.

The factory produced up to 4,000 king size cigarettes a minute, 60 million a day, and a 1,000 million a month.

The total production of Rothmans King Size was produced at the Darlington plant and was largely committed for export to the Middle-East.

Despite health warnings, sales of the cigarettes doubled, and it was hoped that expansion to cope with demand would be a strong possibility.

The multi-million production machine was a far cry from the days of its founder, Louis Rothman.

In 1890, the 21-year-old opened a kiosk in Fleet Street selling cigarettes to journalists and influential media moguls. An innovative businessman, Rothman invented menthol cigarettes and produced the Pall Mall brand.

In 1954, the Rupert family of South Africa acquired a controlling interest in the company, and four years later Rembrandt bought Carreras and later acquired 51 per cent of Alfred Dunhill Ltd.

It was not until January 1999 that British American Tobacco and Rothmans merged, obtaining 16 per cent of the world cigarette market.

As early as 1985, nine years after its arrival in Darlington, fear and anxieties were running high at the South Durham factories after the announcement that 197 jobs were to go in Darlington and 116 at the Spennymoor plant.

The company blamed a fall in the market caused by the Government slapping more tax on cigarettes.

Two years later, flagging sales in the UK gave rise to concern but bosses were hopeful they could boost sales in Japan as well as benefit from the billion Chinese population, which was regarded as the largest untapped market in the world.

In 2000, the Spennymoor plant closed with many of the workers transferring to Darlington.

The plant now employs about 500, but with a lack of work and falling numbers it seems the vision of 1976 has no place in 2003.