A BUYER has been found for the former PoleStar Foods factory in Okehampton.

The factory — which closed at the beginning of February with 232 redundancies — was sold to Devonshire Desserts Ltd on Tuesday February 15.

Administrators FRP Advisory said that following the bid process, only one viable offer was received, and the plant, machinery and freehold had been successfully sold.

A statement from the new owners said: 'Devonshire Desserts is engaged in a detailed evaluation of the Okehampton plant.

'The future of the Okehampton factory will depend upon the outcome of this evaluation.'

Former employees remain concerned about the future of the site.

Usdaw union representative at the factory Terry Cummings said human resources staff at the site had now been made redundant and former workers had been told to contact Meridian Employment Agency in Exeter.

He added: 'Things are still very much up in the air and the prospects for staff returning to the site seem pretty slim at present.'

Devonshire Desserts Ltd has the same Leeds-based registered company address as Countrystyle Foods Ltd, which produces part-baked breads, patisserie items, doughnuts and deserts.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride said: 'I am very relieved that a buyer has been secured for PoleStar, but it is not clear at this stage what their plans are for the business; specifically whether they will be re-employing people in Okehampton.

'It is vitally important to the town that jobs result from this change in ownership and I will be doing all that I can to facilitate this.'

Devonshire Desserts could not be contacted for further comment.