THE clock is ticking down towards the final closure of an industrial site in the west of the borough, which is running down operations prior to relocation.

Smurfit Kappa has a long history in Thurrock and used to be located on a site in West Thurrock adjacent to the former Thames Board Mills, which is now occupied by the new Harris academy.

The packaging manufacturer and supply company relocated its Lokfast business to Gateway House on the Weston Avenue industrial site in Grays, but announced just before Christmas that it was going to move the business to Scotland.

By October this year the Thurrock operation will be closed, with the loss of 59 jobs, as the business switiches to Tannochside, near Glasgow.

A statement from Smurfit Kappa said: "The relocation will ensure the ongoing success of the Lokfast brand, first established in 1967, and strengthen Smurfit Kappa's position in the Scottish drinks industry.

"The existing Tannochside plant specialises in high quality decorative corrugated with a strong customer base within the Scottish drinks industry."

Of the 59 people employed at West Thurrock, the majority have taken redundancy, however some will relocate to other Smurfit Kappa sites including Chelmsford and Diss, as well as Tannochside.