More than 40 workers will be made redundant when a Sussex egg-packing factory shuts this summer.

Stonegate Farmers is to close the plant in Reeds Lane, Sayers Common, after a consultation on cost-cutting.

Some members of staff have worked at the branch since the early Eighties, when it opened. One worker said: "People are annoyed.

"We were told we would be getting a new egg grader and now the next thing we know we are being shut down.

"We have not been given the precise reason for the closure but we believe it is because the firm's biggest site, in Laycock in Wiltshire, has been performing better than they thought.

"People feel subdued because we had hoped the site would be refurbished. But the bosses have changed their minds and a senior from head office in Hailsham came to break the news. At least we know what is happening now and we can try to find other jobs."

Although the factory will close, the farm next door, also run by Stonegate Farmers, will remain open.

About 12 of the egg packers will transfer to work at the farm but the other 40 will be laid off.

The firm has four other egg-packing centres in Wiltshire, Cornwall, Canterbury and Swansea.

The Mid Sussex district councillor for Hurstpierpoint, Rosemary Burns, said: "It is always sad when we lose local employment like that."

A spokesman for Stonegate Farmers said: "A dozen egg packers will be kept on to work at the farm preparing eggs to be transported and graded elsewhere.

"Staff have different notice periods they have to work of up to 12 weeks.

"We will keep the site open until we can no longer physically or economically pack there."

The spokesman would not comment on the reasons for the closure.