FRESH details emerged today regarding the closure of a government horticultural re-search facility in Hampshire.

The Daily Echo understands that no new business is being taken on at the centre at Efford, Lymington, from the end of next month.

As previously reported, a phased redundancy of the workforce of 34, including scientists, drivers and secretaries, is taking place. They will all have left by April.

The centre conducts ground-breaking research on plant issues, such as pest and disease control.

Professional growers work to provide practical information for a range of customers from the government to nursery stockists and garden centres.

But money from the public and private sectors have dwindled and a Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs review in July recommended privatisation and closure of the site at Efford.

The restructuring will also see 80 job losses for two other research stations in the shake up.

Staff from the headquarters at Wellesbourne, Warickshire, and its research farm at Kirton, Lincolnshire, will be made redundant when the sites merge with the University of Warwick in March.

There are no plans to relocate the Hampshire staff.

Some of the staff at Efford face finding new jobs after more than 40 years.

Experimental crop manager David Joblin and driver John Hillyar have both worked at the facility since 1957.

Site manager Ray Tucker said: "Considering the circumstances, the staff have been marvellous. They're disappointed because we worked very hard to develop things."

Some of the research carried out at the site has produced vital economic results.

It was claimed Efford was the first in Europe to reduce expensive glass-house energy costs by a quarter.

Mr Tucker added: "The team provide something unique. The closure will leave a big gap in near market research and development capability for UK horticulture."

Horticultural Research Institute chief executive Professor Michael Wilson said: "It is with great regret that the decision to close Efford had to be made."

According to an independent report, Efford was a loss-making operation and it struggled to attract funding.