UP TO 100 former Terry's employees could find temporary jobs at rival York confectioners Nestl Rowntree.

Nestl Rowntree said today it had already taken on eight former Terry's workers full-time, with the possibility of between 50 and 100 people joining on a temporary basis.

A further 13 people are finding work at Monkhill Confectionery, which employs 350 at its factory near Nether Poppleton.

As reported in last night's Evening Press, today saw the biggest swathe of redundancies at Terry's factory in Bishopthorpe Road, with 105 workers losing their jobs - leaving only 108 on the site.

Terry's says 132 workers have either found alternative employment or taken retirement.

Production of Terry's chocolate box favourite, All Gold, has already moved from York, and Twilight, York Fruits and Touch Of Class will no longer be made in York after today.

That will leave the plant making Chocolate Orange alone for the next few months until it finally shuts in the late summer - bringing to an end a York confectionery tradition dating back to 1767.

Nestl Rowntree said: "Since the announcement Nestl Rowntree has worked with Terry's to give its people the opportunity to join the company wherever vacancies exist.

"To date Nestl Rowntree has employed six full-time craftsmen, who are joining us gradually from Terry's.

"PMP recruitment, the organisation that provides Nestl Rowntree with temporary industrial labour, has been working with Terry's at our request and we will also see between 50 and 100 people from Terry's joining PMP recruitment."

Monkhill's managing director, Martin Drane, said: "Ever since the announcement of the closure of Terry's was made, we have been working very closely with its management team and the union to see if we can help in any way.

"We have held a couple of open days for employees to come and have employed eight people as a result, and another five people are due to start with us soon.

"From our perspective it's been very good and obviously we are delighted to help retain the knowledge, skills and experience of these confectioners within the area."

Updated: 10:11 Friday, April 29, 2005