FILOFAX is closing down two manufacturing plants in

Sussex with the loss of about 130 jobs.

Its bases in Burgess Hill and Littlehampton will shut by the end of June as part of a drive to cut costs.

The firm behind the personal organiser which became a status symbol for so-called yuppies in the Eighties is moving its manufacturing operation overseas.

It says rising interest rates in Britain and a strong pound have made exporting tough and most of the firm's products are already made abroad.

Managing director Christopher Brace said he was "very sad" over the job losses but the company's worldwide sourcing and logistics operations would remain in Burgess Hill.

Staff going to work this morning were reluctant to talk about the job losses..

But Kim Bolton, 31, of Vallance Road, Lewes, who has run the canteen at Filofax for the last seven years, said she was "shocked" to hear the news.

She said: "We heard about it yesterday afternoon. They called us all together and Chris Brace told us.

"We knew something was going to happen. The company has been going downhill for the last year but it was still a bit of a shock."

In 1998 Filofax was the subject of a £50.3 million buy-out from its American equivalent, Day Runner.

News of the job cuts at the plants in Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, and Riverside Industrial Estate, Littlehampton, have dismayed town leaders.

John Stevens, chairman of Littlehampton Traders Partnership, said it was another blow to the town after several large companies, including the town's biggest employer, Body Shop, and the

Littlehampton Book Company, announced job losses during the past 12 months.

Mr Stevens said: "News of job losses is always disappointing, not least for the employees and their families who it will touch. It will also affect the commercial community and will result in a loss of confidence in the town.

"We want to express our sympathy to those who appear to have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. It makes you wonder how much further it can go."

Burgess Hill town councillor Gill Balsdon said: "We are very sorry to lose a company like that from Burgess Hill. I know a lot of local people are employed by that company and I hope they will be able to find other employment in the town.

"We want local people to work locally."

The company said it could not confirm the exact number of job losses until employee consultation had taken place.

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