30 July 2010 Last updated at 10:14 ET

Jobs at support stocking factory in Cornwall threatened

About 130 people could be made redundant in Cornwall at a factory that makes support stockings for the NHS, its American owner has confirmed.

A consultation process has begun over Covidien Healthcare's plant on the Pool Industrial Estate in Redruth, which could be closed in March 2011, it said.

Staff heard on Thursday that the consultation had begun.

Covidien said it had to keep reviewing the efficiency and costs of its manufacturing business.

Richard Bevilacqua from the company said: "We are consistently reviewing our global operations, which has about 60 manufacturing facilities located around the world, and we're constantly looking at how to make decisions about which is the best way to operate efficiently."