A GWENT MP accused the Assembly of "twiddling its thumbs" over the loss of 400 jobs at a local factory.

Cranberry Foods announced the losses in April, saying production at the turkey slaughtering and processing plant in Abergavenny will halt on June 18.

Devastated workers said they had been "kicked in the teeth" after the news came out.

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.

Monmouth MP David Davies says no help has yet been forthcoming from the Assembly, despite assurances of help after the announcement was made last month.

He is calling for workers to be given the same level of support as was given to steelworkers who lost their jobs in Newport.

Mr Davies says he has received a letter from environment minister Carwyn Jones saying that officials are moving quickly to provide support, but he insists no help has yet been forthcoming.

He said: "I have been given vague promises from the Assembly that officials are talking with other officials and it is simply not good enough."

He compared the situation to when thousands of steelworkers in Newport and Ebbw Vale were axed by Corus. Mr Davies said multi-million pound aid packages were announced almost immediately and added: "I fail to understand why similar action is not being taken now.

"The Assembly is twiddling its thumbs when worried workers simply don't knw what the future holds for them."

Worker of 15 years Martin Cooper, 65, from Nantyglo, said: "The announcement of the job cuts came as a total shock to us. We feel betrayed and they've really stuffed us."

The Assembly insists officials have been in close contact with the company throughout and have been working with Careers Wales, JobCentre Plus and the local authority to "ensure affected staff receive support to re-train and find other potential job opportunities".