RYEDALE employees who had to commute 40 miles a day to work after their Norton factory closed were shocked today by news that their jobs have finally gone.

And to make matters worse, there may be a lengthy struggle to win redundancy cash for employees from the former Malton Clothing factory.

The news that Driffield Clothing had closed with the loss of 150 jobs was a particularly bitter blow to the Ryedale workers.

More than 20 of them were still travelling to Driffield after transferring from the factory in Welham Road, Norton, which closed in March.

Both factories were part of the Tasou group, which took over the Norton operation in 1998.

Originally, about 40 of its 77-strong workforce opted to commute, but union officials said that number had gradually fallen.

Now those that kept up the travelling have returned from two weeks holiday to find their new workplace has also closed.

John Kirk, York-based regional organiser for the GMB union, said he was concerned about cash due to employees following the closure.

He added: "They are owed quite a lot of money, and whether they get that is dependent on the Department of Trade and Industry."

Claims for redundancy money would have to be referred to the DTI's redundancy payment section, said Mr Kirk.

Karen Baron, from Weaverthorpe near Malton, worked at the Norton factory for 15 years. But she and the other Ryedale workers had been on holiday and she only heard about the closure blow when of the Driffield staff called her.

"We were given no notice at all about it," she added. "It's ridiculous, the way they have handled it."

A spokesman for Driffield Clothing said its directors attributed the closure to continuing price pressures from customers and competition from overseas manufacturers.