Hamlet Cigars Factory To Close 200 Jobs Lost

Almost 200 workers will lose their jobs when Japan Tobacco shuts its factory in Wales.

The Cardiff site was set up in 1961 and manufactures 330 million cigars a year - including the famous Hamlet brand.

But staff were informed yesterday that the site will close in September 2009.

Much of the plant's work will go to Japan Tobacco's factory at Lisnafillan in Northern Ireland where the firm will hire around 95 extra workers.