SADNESS and anger — those were the feelings among former employees of PoleStar Foods Ltd, when the company this week announced more than 200 redundancies and the closure of its Okehampton factory.

Workers arriving for their shifts at Okehampton Desserts on Monday were sent home and production at the factory was halted. Some staff revealed they had not been paid for more than a week.

Staff and union officials were told of the redundancies and factory closure at a meeting with managers on Tuesday.

The news from PoleStar came less than a week after Robert Wiseman Dairies announced it had started a 30-day consultation period on the future of its Okehampton milk processing plant, putting a further 69 local jobs at risk.

Former PoleStar staff have expressed anger at the way the closure has been handled.

Karl Jansz, who has six children and worked at the factory for 25 years, said: 'I think people are sad but also angry at the way this has been dealt with — that's the painful bit.

'The way it was done wasn't expected. They could have told us that they had big problems and were going into redundancy talks, but none of that happened. We didn't get paid, and then just got told that's it.

'I'm hoping there's hope for the factory. We just need someone to buy the place.

'My wife worked at PoleStar, and so did I, so at the moment we don't have an income. None of us knows how long it will take to get the redundancy money.'

Mr Jansz said the union rep was doing his best on their behalf, but it was now up to an administrator, and whether they felt morally bound to pay the workers as well as the suppliers who are owed money.

'Sadly, I suspect it will be the loudest shouts that get paid first,' he said.

'My next move is going to be signing on. Then I've got to start looking for jobs and making a CV for the first time in 25 years.'

The factory's union representative Terry Cummings said: 'The redundancy announcement is not good news, but I think the bond of the pie factory lives on. After all, it was the people that made it a good place to work.

'Whoever takes the business on has a well motivated and experienced team of people that can run the factory and could take it back to the great and profitable business it has been in the past.

'One thing is for sure: we can be proud of the achievements of the factory over its many years of trading.'

A statement from PoleStar Foods on Tuesday said: 'Despite exhaustive efforts to keep the Okehampton factory operational, we have encountered unforeseen problems and very regrettably have been forced to make 232 staff redundant at the Okehampton Desserts factory with immediate effect.

'We have held constructive meetings with staff and union officials today and realise that this is very unsettling for all those involved. 

'It is possible that an administrator will be appointed by the company in the coming days. 

'We are working towards an outcome where a buyer can be found for the operation, in the hope that some staff can be re-employed under new ownership.  There cannot be any guarantees but this is what we are working very hard towards.'

PoleStar's plant in Leamington Spa went into administration in December with the loss of 160 jobs after the company was bought out by turnaround investment company Privet Capital.

A statement on the website of the British Frozen Foods Federation on December 6 said: 'Privet's investment in PoleStar will accelerate the turnaround of the company with the ambition of significantly growing its Okehampton flagship site over the next 24 months.'

Central Devon MP Mel Stride said it would be a particularly hard time for those who had been made redundant, and for their families.

'This is a difficult time for the whole community.

'On Wednesday evening I met with PoleStar's owners. The company is not in administration at the moment and a buyer is being sought.

'I pressed the owners to concentrate on finding a buyer that will keep the business operating in its current form, so that some jobs might be reinstated, and the owners assured me that that is their intention and that they are in discussions with potential purchasers.

'If a sale cannot be achieved quickly there is clearly the risk that the contracts that PoleStar has with major retailers will be lost, so time is of the essence.

'I have stressed to the owners that I am available to assist in any way that increases the chances of a sale that leads to the reinstatement and creation of local jobs.

'I have specifically offered to approach PoleStar's larger retail customers to urge them not to terminate their supply contracts with PoleStar, if these come under pressure whilst a new buyer is sought.'

Chairman of Devon County Council chairman and Okehampton councillor Christine Marsh said: 'My main concern is for the families, but the effect for the town will be devastating as well, it will have a massive knock-on effect and the whole economy of the town will be affected.

'As a town, we have great potential for future growth, but for that we need robust employment.'

The consultation on the future of 69 jobs at Robert Wiseman Dairies will end on February 25, at which point a company spokesman said the firm would 'take as long as necessary' to reach a decision on the future of the site.