A hi-tech engineering firm has temporarily laid off about 35 workers due to a downturn in the mobile phone market.

The staff at Dalau in Clacton have been informed of the decision.

Sales director David Sage said as a supplier in the chain to major manufacturers like Nokia, Motorola, Marconi and Nortel the company was suffering a knock-on effect of the downturn in demand for telecommunications equipment.

"This has resulted in Dalau needing to lay-off a number of employees," he said.

"The upturn is expected in the first quarter of next year when the company hopes to get back to normal production."

Mr Sage said it was the first time in Dalau's history it had ever taken such a step and regretted doing so.

Dalau was founded in Clacton in 1955 and makes Teflon products which are used in the automotive, petro-chemical, electronics and engineering industries.

Four years ago Dalau was granted permission to expand from its Ford Road works to a greenfield site in Centenary Way after a prolonged planning battle - but as yet no relocation has taken place.

The company had threatened to leave the area if permission was not granted, claiming it needed to expand to remain successful.

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