Union Unite has pledged to support workers affected by the collapse of crane hire firm Hewden.

The company called in administrators Ernst & Young earlier this week after failing to secure new financial backers for the business.

The firm warned in October about "market uncertainty following the vote to leave the EU" which affected a number of large construction and investment projects.

Over 250 workers in its crane division now face redundancy, while 130 workers from its plant hire business have been transferred to A-Plant. The future over the remaining hundreds of staff remains in doubt unless a buyer for their depots can be found.

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Unite national officer Bernard McAulay said: "This is a sickening blow for workers in the run up to Christmas and is the result of a succession of venture capitalists hawking Hewden around the market over a number of years to make a quick buck.

"Unite will be fighting to secure the futures of Hewden workers and supporting them in any way we can through this difficult time. We are currently in contact with the administrators over the transfer of workers to A-Plant, in addition to other crane operators and plant hire companies to try and find work for under threat Hewden workers."

(LM/MH)