WORKERS at a Blackburn factory have been given assurances about their jobs after the closure of a similar plant in Burnley was announced.

Managers at Smurfit in Whitebirk Drive are understood to have made the statement to staff after receivers moved into Papermark in Burnley.

Both companies deal in recycled paper products and Papermark was run by Smurfit until four years ago.

The Burnley company was formed in June 2000 with the purchase of the Paper and Board Mills in Burnley from the Jefferson Smurfit Group.

More than 200 people lost their jobs in Burnley.

Administrators are in the process of winding the plant up.

But the factories are not connected.

Bosses at the Blackburn plant called a meeting to clear up any confusion that may have been created.

A spokesman for the company today said workers were told about the situation in Burnley and assured that it had nothing to do with its operation in Blackburn.

"There is absolutely no connection with Burnley and we are going ahead with our business in Blackburn." the spokesman added.

Unions have been involved in talks with workers in Burnley.

They are believed to be angry about Papermark's decision to shut up shop.

But a GPMU spokesman said the plant in Burnley had no connection with Smurfit in Blackburn.

There was not likely to be any risk to jobs.