THE BOSS of a lighting firm has spoken of his sadness at the decision to cut 86 jobs at Guiseley's Crompton Ligh-ting factory - but pledged that the firm will stay in the town.

Managing director of parent company Cooper Lighting and Security, Leigh Thomasson, said the operation has been making a loss amid falling prices and rising costs.

He has also allayed fears reported last week about the future of the site by announcing that Cooper Lighting will continue to use the Netherfield Road factory.

Mr Thomasson said: "We've been making lamps up there for about 100 years, so it is a sad day for us."

"Basically we've tried like hell to keep the business open and viable for a really long time. I've been with the business since 1993. What's happening is that the prices keep coming down, and costs keep going up. We got to the stage where we were in a loss-making position. We've been in that position for about a year, although I should say we've looked into it in a great deal of detail."

Mr Thomasson said the company's lamp manufacturing operation, which is based entirely at Guiseley, will now move to another country, where it can be run at a much lower cost.

However, he said warehouse and office staff will remain in Guiseley, and the building will be kept in use.

"We are keeping the building. We're going to be buying lamps in, so we'll have to have a quality control function and a warehousing function. We'll also have an accounts and IT function in Guiseley," said Mr Thomasson.

There was concern at the announcement that the production operation at the factory was to end. Some feared that the firm would leave Netherfield Road, leaving another large site in the town which housing developers may target for intensive building.

Guiseley and Menston Green Belt Action Group (GAMGBAG), has been involved in the campaign to keep down the numbers of houses on former industrial sites in the area.

Graham Hoult, of GAMGBAG, said: "We're saddened with the news about the job losses, but at the same time pleased to hear there are no major changes planned for the site in the near future, from an environmental point of view."

Crompton Lighting - which also has a factory in Doncaster - is one of the largest lamp manufacturers in the UK.

It went into partnership in the 1920s with motor manufacturer F&AW Parki-nson, to form Crompton Parkinson in Guiseley. The lighting business was bought out in recent years by international firm Cooper Industries.

It set up Cooper Lighting and Security, including a number of other companies, which also own factories in Yorkshire. Some jobs are expected to be made available to at Cooper Lighting's other factories. The first 67 employees are expected to leave in May, with another 19 leaving later this year.