AN engineering firm in Congleton is hoping to re-employ 32 people who were recently made redundant.

United Pressing Fabrication (UPF), which supplies motor parts, made the lay offs after delays by General Motors in building the Vauxhall Frontera meant there was no work at the company's Ellesmere Port Plant.

UPF Director, Roy Price, confirmed that 32 people had been made redundant after pressure from the union over the lack of work for employees.

"The situation was that a lot of people were suffering and the union asked if we could make people redundant then at least they can go and claim something from the DSS," Mr Price explained.

"The union wanted to make 60 people redundant, but we have actually made 32 redundant," he added.

Mr Price now hopes to re-employ the people in the coming months when the company begins to assemble parts for the Frontera car.

"We have done a lot of training with these people and we will give everybody that we have laid off the first option.

"We have been absolutely open and honest with the workers and they knew the situation.

Mr Price added that the company's prospects were looking up with new jobs coming in and the delay with GM Motors was merely a glitch in the long-term plan.

"The company itself has moved forward over the last couple of years and is now becoming close to world class suppliers," Mr Price said.