REDUNDANT cement workers say that a letter thanking them for a successful year was a final kick in the teeth.

Former employees at Lafarge UK's Blue Circle Cement works were sent a letter at the end of last week and a £500 bonus to mark the company's success.

This comes just months after the plant was closed down because the company wanted to focus on 'production at larger, more efficient sites.'

Billy Wilthew, who was the works GMB convenor at the Eastgate works, said that the thank-you letter was an insult.

Mr Wilthew said: "We just think that it is more or less a kick in the teeth to the lads who worked there.

"That just goes to show what a good viable little business it was and the lads kept turning out the work. They met their targets even though they knew it was closing.

"That's the kind of workforce they were."

Durham County Councillor John Shuttleworth said: "This just proves what we have been saying all along. The plant should have stayed open.

"They have been quick to praise the workers but that meant nothing when they closed it down."

Weardale Works manager Peter Greeno said the payment was part of a company-wide bonus scheme covering all of the company's operations.

He said: "We have always said that the performance of the Weardale team was not in question and their performance against the bonus targets underlines this.

"However, it does not change the fact that for the long-term health of the company and all its 1,500 employees the factory had to close as we focused production at larger more efficient sites."