FACTORY staff have been left relieved after a manufacturing giant stepped in to save their company.

Uncertainty had been hanging over Amtek, in Witham, after it went into administration, with staff unaware if of whether there was a future for the firm.

But last week it was saved by Liberty, which means hundreds of workers’ livelihoods have been saved.

David Hunt, who has worked at for the company for 17 years,. He said: “I think there was a sense of relief from everyone when it was concluded.

“For me it is good that someone has taken over that could take us on to better things in the future.

“The staff wanted to know what was going on and now we can start moving forward, progress and make this place viable for the future.”

Average service at the company is about ten years with some employees sharing their workplace with other family members.

Scott Ashworth started at the company as an apprentice 28 years ago, working his way up to foundry technical manager.

He said: “When we heard it was Liberty coming in, there was excitement, it’s really nice to have a company which is into manufacturing.

“Over the years it has been leaving the UK for other countries and to have someone about positive about the UK we can only see as a massive positive.

“It is not a job you can walk off the street and do. It takes training and these are high-skilled jobs.

“We all work as a team. It has always been clear that the manufacturers do support the business as well.

“At the end of the day we are working together to get the best product we can get out of the door.

“We are often complimented by other companies on the work we do here.”

Ian Doyle, has worked for the company for 21 years.

He said: “Some staff had doubts and thought that they might lose their jobs. People were worried for their futures.

“Having that hang over your heads is not nice, but now it is over.”

Going forward the company will be known as Liberty Aluminium Technologies, a move that Eugene Harkin, a director for Liberty, said was a chance for a fresh start.

He said: “It is important people realise we are Liberty and the past is the past.

“We have invested in the people, in the assets here and in the customers as well.”