AN animal waste processing plant is to close next month with the loss of about 80 jobs.

The De Mulder Group, which owns the Chettles factory at Ditchford Mill, between Wellingborough and Rushden, made the announcement on Friday.

The factory produces animal meal made from feathers and bosses have blamed the closure on the European ban on the use and export of animal-based products for animal feeds, which was approved wake of the BSE crisis in Europe.

Fifty-four ermolovees work at the plant, with at least 30 other workers employed by contractors involved with vehicle washing and maintenance.

DOOMED - the Chettles factory which will close after a European ban

Sales director Paul Foxcroft said: "We have had to make this announcement of the closure but make it very reluctantly. We are still making every effort to get a sensible reversal of this decision. Only if this is achieved is there any chance of avoiding the closure."

Discussions are continuing with with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the European Commission.

Chettles is the country's only processor of poultry feathers. About 100,000 tonnes are processed each year, producing about 30,000 tonnes of meal.

The ban on animal products in feeds came into force on January 1 after being approved by the European Council in December.

Chettles bosses say if they cannot get a reprieve the plant will close on March 23.

Mr Foxcroft said: "We feel this product has been wrongly swept up in panic measures introduced to counter the European BSE crisis. We believed last week we had secured a derogation from the ban but certain technical constraints have been introduced by the European Commission which are impossible to comply with. These are totally unnecessary and scientifically unjustified."