DISABLED workers were jubilant yesterday after the spectre of closure finally lifted from their Poole Remploy factory.

Staff at the Alder Hills site, whose jobs have been threatened under cost-cutting plans all year, breathed a collective sigh of relief after Remploy chiefs announced the plant should be safe for at least the next five years.

Bosses will closely monitor production, which means new orders need landing to stave off a future survival fight, but union rep Lorraine Sheen said: "The fact we are safe for the moment is brilliant; it is absolutely fantastic news.

"I was at the factory this morning and everybody is so happy. I would like to thank everyone, including the Daily Echo, for their support."

A voluntary redundancy programme will be introduced to reduce the factory's costs.

Mrs Sheen said: "This factory is more than simply a place of work. We are talking about people's lives.

"The fight is not over though. The Poole jobs are safe for the next five years but then they could be under threat again, and the fight continues for the other 28 Remploy factories that have not been saved."

Remploy chief executive Bob Warner insists the Poole factory still needs to show progress in "moving towards an acceptable loss per disabled employee."

It is hoped the plant, which employs 43 disabled workers making marine textiles, will now become a key Remploy site in the South West region.

Work and pensions minister Peter Hain is yet to sign off on these latest proposals, but a decision should be made within weeks.

Mr Warner said: "The plans which we have submitted meet the goals set by the government for us to support many more disabled people into jobs in mainstream employment, avoid compulsory redundancy of disabled employees, and remain within a £555m spending limit over five years."

Borough of Poole Cllr Mike Plummer recently took part in a 114 mile walk to Westminster to hand over a petition calling for a U-turn on Remploy factory closures.

He said: "I am overjoyed. For the vast majority of the workers the Poole factory is their life.

Annette Brooke, who has been lobbying hard for the Poole factory to be saved, was delighted with the decision but uttered a cautionary note. The Mid Dorset and North Poole MP said: "The downside of it is that the factory is not going to be continuing with its current product."

She said it would be up to local authorities and businesses to procure products.