DEVIZES brewery Wadworth is to make around 57 of its workers redundant.

Employees were called to a meeting on Friday with CEO Chris Welham and chairman Charles Bartholomew and were told the effect of the coronavirus emergency meant cutbacks had to be made and restructuring was to take place.

Mr Welham today confirmed that consultation over 57 jobs had started but he was not able to go into detail.

He said some of the employees were not based in Devizes but were employed by head office and the number did not include people who worked in pubs.

One worker who was at the meeting said: "Some people at the meeting thought it was going to be good news about the ending of furlough and going back to work in July.

"A lot of people are worried that in the present situation it will be difficult to find other work."

The union Unite is involved in the redundancy negotiations and it is expected a meeting will be held this week.

All Wadworth pubs have been closed since March and the Government is yet to announce a date when they will be allowed to open.

Workers fear that many more jobs among pub staff will be lost in coming months.

Last month Mr Welham said plans for a new brewery to be built on the outskirts of Devizes had been put on hold.