A 90-day consultation period began on Monday  13 June after the print giant announced the closure last Thursday (9 June), blaming price pressure in the long-run web and gravure print sectors.

The plant is set to close by next March, with the first of Purnell's five presses decommissioned in October and the rest closed down in the New Year. Downsizing of the finishing department began in April.

Alan Fraser, Polestar Purnell managing director, said that work from the plant would be "absorbed into Polestar's other operating sites", although he insisted that there would be no wholesale shift of work to the company's Sheffield superplant.

Polestar has said that it would try explore opportunities to transfer staff to other sites in the group, although Fraser said it was unclear how many jobs could be saved.

Hopes for the survival of the company, which was first founded in Paulton in 1839, were raised this week after the Bristol Evening Post reported on a possible management buy-out at the plant. Fraser said: "I'm aware of [the reports] but we've had no formal approach or received anything of any substance."

Tony Burke, Amicus GPMS assistant general secretary, said that the plant's closure was "absolutely devastating for our members".
"Many have very long service and they've got Purnell ink in their blood. It's a great pity after last year when we thought we'd achieved a deal that had turned the corner," he said.

Fraser said that survival plans struck with the union and staff last year had not been enough to secure the plant's future. "We believe we've given it our best shot, but the market has moved away from Purnell," he said.

Story by Josh Brooks