Twenty-five workers have closed the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight with a sit-in demo over company plans to lay off 625 workers at the end of July, despite rising profits.
It said the Newport factory was being closed due to reduced demand for wind turbines in northern Europe.Those inside the Newport offices say they will stay until “someone listens”.

Vestas said a consultation on the site’s future was still on-going.
Workers have previously called for government action to preserve jobs at a time when ministers are pledging a commitment to renewable energy.

Police said about 200 workers are protesting outside the factory after being turned away when they arrived earlier.

The protesters have locked themselves in a first floor office and claim no members of senior management, who have been let into the site, have come to talk to them.

The news of the job cuts came as the organisation, which is the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines, reported a quarterly sales rise of 59% to 1.11bn euros.Vestas is one of the largest employers of skilled labour on the island.