A major Hampshire aviation company is to close with scores of jobs being axed, it was revealed today.

Earlier this month the Daily Echo revealed that jobs could be lost after bosses at Pratt & Whitney Canada decided its £15 million complex next to Southampton Airport was "uncompetitive" and launched a consultation on its future.

The jobs bombshell was delivered to workers at a meeting this afternoon and that the plant will close in the autumn with 130 jobs being axed.

Workers were called to meeting at 2pm and 30 minutes later grim faced employees were driving through the gates.

One worker, who refused to be named, said: "We have been told it is closing in October. There will be a redundancy package and some people might be relocated."

Asked about the mood of the workers, he said: "They are not very happy at the moment."

A company spokesperson has confirmed to the Daily Echo that the Southampton site will close by the end of October.

Vice president for communications for Pratt and Whitney Nancy German said: "It was a tough decision that we had to make this announcement to our employees."

But she said it followed a thorough analysis of the cost structure of the Southampton site.

Steps were already being taken to soften the blow to the workers affected.

They will be offered termination compensation and the opportunity of relocating to jobs within the company's network, she said.