A Leading North Staffordshire pottery firm has announced it is to safeguard 250 jobs by closing one of its production sites. Wade Ceramics today confirmed it will close its Royal Works at Burslem and transfer 80 staff to its original home at Hilltop in the mother town in a bid to streamline the business and cut costs by 10 per cent.

The move will mean Wade's world-famous Whimsies, pestle and mortar range and all household and industrial products will now be produced at the Hilltop site.

Two workers have been made redundant and six have retired or taken voluntary redundancy, but Wade says the closure will safeguard jobs in the long-term.

The news comes a week after Wedgwood announced the closure of two factories with the loss of 1,000 jobs in North Staffordshire.

Paul Farmer, managing director at Wade Ceramics, said the move would be complete by August and will lead to greater efficiency aimed at continuing profitability.

He said: "The current industry is a constant battle. This action is a drive to increase efficiency and the good news is that we have done this without mass job losses.

"This will see a lot of our fixed costs removed without any reduction in the company' s turnover."

Mr Farmer revealed the firm has invested more than £250,000 in refurbishing the five-acre Hilltop site, including building a new floor and reclaiming old, previously unused areas.

Knutsford-based PB Developments- a joint venture of developer Bushwing and construction firm Pochin- has snapped up the two-acre Royal Works site to develop as part of its commitment to regeneration in Burslem.

It has bought several former factory sites in Burslem, including the former Sadler's factory, which overlooks Ceramica.

Managing director David Walker said: "We will pursue development of the land over the next few months."