ANOTHER 50 employees of Pembroke Dock-based DPS Composites were made redundant last week.

The latest job losses include head of aerospace, John White, and general manager, Peter Webster.

Almost three weeks ago, DPS Composites laid off 20 workers because of the crisis in the airline industry, following the September 11th terrorist attack in New York. At the time, the company - which specialises in the manufacture of aircraft interiors - was said to be seeking new contracts in the military sector.

Peter Webster had been with DPS since the company was established in Pembroke Dock in 1999, and had been responsible for bringing the company to the area, while working as Pembrokeshires inward investment officer.

He said: Im not able to say too much at this point until a number of legal issues are resolved. This is obviously very bad news for the area, and I feel more than a little devastated, both from a personal perspective, and on behalf of the 60 or so former colleagues now out of work through no fault of their own. Whatever anyone says, the workforce taken on over the last two years have been brilliant, and it has been a pleasure and privilege to work with them. I genuinely believe that the principal reason for the scale of redundancies is the business climate, and near-panic in the aerospace sector.

Mark Hilsdon, managing director of DPS Aerospace, said: This was a dreadful decision to make. We are a relatively new business in the area and have grown rapidly over the last two years. The success has been due to the willingness and co-operation of the local workforce. We have had to take drastic steps to ensure our survival.

The company does not expect to make any more redundancies.