A MAJOR Porthmadog employer is “temporarily” laying off 35 staff, the Cambrian News can reveal.

On Tuesday afternoon Cambrian Sovereign, better known as Cambrian Leisure Homes, told more than a fifth of its employees that they were to lose their jobs – although they say it will be temporary.

The move comes as the company, which produces top-of-the-range holiday lodges, admits its build quality “has not been as good as it should be” over the last six months and that it is scaling back production to restore standards.

The troubled firm, and its staff of approximately 150 people, was saved from administration in March 2017 following a merger with Sovereign Park & Leisure Homes in Coventry but, a little over a year later, jobs have been cut, although it is said to be only temporarily.

One laid-off employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Cambrian News: “It’s awful news for us, there’s not that many jobs in Porthmadog as it is, so to lose 35 positions at once is terrible.

“There are people who are laid off with young families and people who have turned down other job offers to stay with the company."

See this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow