The doors closed for the last time on Friday at Laindon's gin factory, ending a 16-year era.

The last few workers at the United Distillers and Vintners plant, where the world-famous Gordon's Gin was made and bottled, were downing tools tonight for the last time.

The site in Fenton Road had been winding down until the official closure since bosses made their shock announcement in 1998. It has meant the loss of 220 jobs.

The closure is part of a restructuring exercise which will see production and packaging move to Scotland.

However, the company has worked to soften the blow by finding almost half-a-million pounds to provide a training centre and advice to help find new jobs for the axed workers.

Staff were also able to leave when it was convenient to them.

By January, 95 per cent of the staff had already gone - but not before surprising bosses by continuing to break production records time and again after the closure announcement.

Those stalwarts who remain, however, have been sad to see the end at one of Basildon's landmark employers.

One worker who did not want to be named, and was arriving for his last day of work at the plant said: "It's all a bit sad really.

"Some of this site was only built nine years ago."

The rich history of the Laindon plant has included a Queen's Award for Export Achievement back in December 1994.

Earlier the same year, the Tanqueray gin, distilled and bottled in Laindon, received the Greenall's white spirit trophy for the best white spirit in that year's international wine and spirit competition.

The plant was also famous for producing the up-market Pimms and the night-club favourite Smirnoff Vodka.

The new owners of the 25-acre site, developers Barberry House Properties, proposed to invest around £12 million into the site.

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