MELKSHAM tyre factory Cooper Tires has again denied the factory will be closing for a month later this year, but admits reduced hours for some workers are “a possibility”.

Concerned staff contacted the Wiltshire Times this week after being told that Saturday shifts may be eliminated and that the usual Easter break could be extended this year.

If the Saturday shifts at the factory are stopped, that could cost some workers £250 a month from their pay.

A Cooper Tires spokesman said the company is “looking at a number of options” over the coming months, including scrapping the Saturday shift and extending the Easter break but stressed that nothing had been set in stone.

The spokesman said that more news regarding the Easter break would become available on Friday, but no decision about Saturday shifts would follow for several weeks.

The spokesman said there is no truth in the rumour that the factory would be closing down for a month this spring.

One Melksham man who works at the factory said: “Everyone is down in the dumps. We had no meeting to ask our opinion, it’s like it or lump it.

“If we lose Saturdays people may start looking for alternatives because it wouldn’t be worth it anymore.

“You could earn as much in a five day a week job and earn the same. At the moment every week we carry on working is a bonus.”

On top of the possibility of losing hours, the worker said that employees found out this week that pension contributions are increasing to nine per cent of their salary to make up for shortfalls.

Cooper Tires announced this week that it is launching a new tyre that was designed and will be manufactured in Melksham.