DEVASTATED workers say they've been "kicked in the teeth" after bosses at a Gwent turkey processing factory confirmed 400 will definitely lose their jobs in two months.

Employees at Cranberry Foods were told yesterday the company is halting production at its Abergavenny factory by June 18 - just 10 weeks from now.

The company says cheap foreign imports have severely damaged trading and it is moving the bulk of its work to its headquarters in Derbyshire. A packing plant will remain at the site employing 120 workers.

The news comes at the end of a 90-day consultation period with unions.

Father-of-four Neil Osborne, 50, from Abergavenny, who has worked at the site for 18 years, said it was a "kick in the teeth".

"They've always said we were the jewel in the crown of the operation," said Mr Osborne, of Underhill Crescent.

"Now I've got to find a new job - we've got just 10 weeks."

Mr Osborne said workers were "sickened" at the news: "We've all got to pay mortgages."

Another worker, Morris Phillips, of Dan-y-Deri in Abergavenny, said workers were "gutted".

"We hoped it wouldn't come to this - nobody dreamed it would close so quickly," he said.

A package of measures which included a pay freeze and reduction in conditions was unanimously rejected by workers. It's understood this also included the loss of sick pay and paid breaks.

Joint managing director of Cranberry Foods, Andrew Lewins confirmed the slaughtering operation would be transferred to the company's other factory in Hollybank, Derbyshire, from June 18, with the loss of 400 jobs.

Around 140 will be created in Derbyshire and he said some workers at Abergavenny may be offered these.

But Mr Osborne added: "I can't go there - I've got four kids."

Founded in 1991 by Sun Valley, the site was bought by Brandons in 2000. In April 2003, Cranberry Foods took on the facility and its then 600 workers.

Mr Lewins said yesterday's decision was "an unfortunate consequence of the global food industry" - the firm simply had to "grow fewer turkeys" because it could not compete with cheap imports from eastern Europe.

Regional Amicus officer Martin Mansfield said the union was "extremely disappointed".

"These are loyal and committed workers who have helped the company through difficult times," he said.