HUNDREDS of workers have been made redundant after one of the town’s largest employers closed its Droitwich operation.

Logistics firm DHL officially shut its town centre distribution centre, based at Berry Hill Industrial Estate, on Sunday, January 29. The move is seen as a huge blow for the town’s economy with more than 300 people believed to have been made redundant, according to workers’ union Unite.

The operation, which caters for supermarket chain Morrisons, has moved to a new distribution centre in Somerset.

The move affected 330 jobs at the site with staff given the choice of either relocating to Somerset or losing their jobs. Workers who could not relocate were offered training by the firm to help them find new employment.

A DHL spokesman said: "We can confirm that the Berry Hill site closed on January 29, 2012, and a number of employees are continuing with training programmes at college."

DHL has not confirmed the number of employees made redundant or how many took up the chance to relocate.

However, Unite regional officer Simon Powell said he believed that around 300 people have lost their jobs and only a few key management staff chose to move.

He said: “This is very bad news for the town. The vast majority of the core workforce is now unemployed and only a very small amount decided to relocate.

“Around 300 people have lost their jobs and we are disappointed that DHL wasn’t able to find other viable work options in the local area.”

A specialist taskforce, including advisors from Wychavon District Council, was launched in October in an attempt to lessen the impact on Droitwich families and the town’s economy following the decision to close the site.