ANOTHER of Huddersfield’s biggest employers is set to axe jobs.

Textile manufacturer Fred Lawton, of Meltham Mills, is to merge with fellow textile company, William S Graham, of Dewsbury, to form Lawton Yarns Ltd later this month.

And it is expected that up to 99 workers will be made redundant in the merger.

The company is the second of the area’s major employers to announce significant redundancies this month.

Engineering firm David Brown’s, of Lockwood, announced yesterday that it may be shedding up to 75 jobs.

Fred Lawton, which has produced carpets and other textiles since 1902, is one of Huddersfield’s biggest manufacturing employers with 270 staff.

Its Meltham Mills factory, measuring 200,000 square feet and the former home of David Brown Tractors, produces more than 3,000 tonnes of yarn each year.

William S Graham (WSG), of Ravens Ing Mills, employs 310 people.

The two factories will continue to operate but those workers in carding, spinning, winding and twisting at both plants will be in danger of redundancy.

Staff at risk will be placed into a ‘selection pool’ and ‘scored’ to determine whether they will continue to work for the new firm.

Employees were informed of the proposals earlier this month.