A YORK chocolate factory is employing 25 workers - only months after making 47 redundant.

The new packers at Terry's are being recruited on a full-time, temporary basis.

Those made redundant in February had been part-time workers who had been unable to change working hours to take on full-time or job share positions.

The Bishopthorpe Road-based company had blamed the redundancies on an increasingly competitive market place and the need to focus resources on those confectionery brands with the greatest growth potential.

But a spokeswoman said today: "We had been expecting to take on temporary employees later in the year, but the market's requirements meant we have had to bring forward some production.

"We were able to provide 18 job share opportunities in February, but some just couldn't meet the requirements and we had to make those redundant."

But one woman who was made redundant, who asked not to be named, said: "It seems to me that Terry's is biased against those who can only work certain hours because they have a family to look after."

Updated: 11:05 Friday, April 12, 2002