A GWENT factory employing disabled people will close it was confirmed today. The Remploy plant in Abertillery is one of 27 to shut across the UK.

Another Gwent plant in Croespenmaen has avoided the axe and is one of nine factories to be subject to further consultation.

The Government today confirmed the closure of the 27 factories, saying the loss-making sites could not be subsidised any longer.

Maria Miller, minister for disabled people, told MPs in the House of Commons the £320 million budget for disabled employment services could be spent more effectively.

She also announced a further consultation on the future of nine other Remploy factories which have been the subject of bids.

Union sources said the 27 factories will close between August and mid-December.

Workers at Remploy's 54 factories are due to stage two 24-hour strikes in the coming weeks in protest at an announcement by the Government earlier this year of closures.

Phil Davies, national officer of the GMB union, said: "GMB is very angry with the Government's confirmation today that it will close 27 Remploy factories in the first wave by December with the rest to follow shortly afterwards.

"To close these factories that employ disabled people in the present economic climate is a sentence to life of unemployment and poverty.

"The strikes will go ahead on July 19 and 26 as planned and should be a rallying point giving for each local community, the opportunity to stand behind these disabled workers who will be facing the scrapheap."