Trebor-Bassett's award winning sweet factory is being sold off at a fraction of the original building cost.

More than 200 jobs will be lost when the Trebor-Bassett sweet factory in Colchester closes on March 3.

The 94,000 sq ft Severalls Lane site was created 20 years ago at a cost of £4 million. But the extensive site is now on the market for just £3 million.

And with just two weeks until closure, no definite buyer has come forward to take over the industrial premises.

The purpose-built factory scooped a prestigious award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1983.

Three out of five brand lines at the factory have now ceased production, with just Refreshers and Trebor Extra Strong Mints still being made.

Jeremy Newman, the commercial agent handling the sale, said efforts to find a buyer were still ongoing and that interest had been expressed in the site.

Steve Clarke, head of estates and economic development services at Colchester Council, said it was hoped a single buyer would take on the whole building.

He said: "From the wider perspective, we are hopeful they will find a new occupier. If they cannot find someone to take it all on, they may have to come back to us for further negotiations."

Despite the firm's efforts to find new jobs for staff, some are already out of work and more could follow.

London-based recruitment firm Coutts Careers Consultants were brought in to interview staff and act as a job centre. The firm also contacted 912 businesses across Essex in a bid to find vacancies.

A spokeswoman for Trebor Bassett said employees at the factory were being disbanded in two phases. She said 91% of those who left in the first phase had been resettled into new jobs.

The situation is still uncertain for the remaining workers who are also being offered support in finding new jobs by the London-based recruitment firm Coutts.

"We have done an awful lot of work and out-placement support has been extended to the second stage leavers and we are hoping a similar number will be found work."

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