Hundreds of jobs are set to go at a cigarette manufacturer in Co Antrim.
JTI Gallaher has handed out redundancy notices to around 800 workers at its factory in Ballymena.
The firm is blaming a challenging economic environment and says European Union cigarette packaging legislation has made the problem worse.
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It is understood redundancies will begin in May 2016.
North Antrim MP Ian Paisley has blamed excessive regulation, and says he wants to meet company bosses.
"Today my heart goes out to these people, many of whom are personal friends, who have been effectively told that the Gallaher era is coming to an end," he said.
