Hanson Building Products intends to close its brickworks at Stewartby in February next year after failing to find a viable means of reducing sulphur dioxide emissions from the ageing factory.

The company's management team has proposed that the works should close on February 29, resulting in the loss of 217 jobs and bringing down the curtain on over a century of brickmaking in the Marston Vale, which in the boom times was home to the largest brickfields in the world.

Managing director David Szymanski said: "This is one of the toughest decisions we have ever had to make. Over the past three years we have invested huge amounts of time, effort and money to try and meet stringent UK limits on emissions, but we have now reached a stage where realistically we must admit defeat."

He said the company would enter into full consultation with the workforce and trade unions, and do its best to find alternative employment for those that seek it.

Production of the famous London brick will be moved to Hanson's Whittlesey plants, near Peterborough, which have sufficient capacity to meet market demands, and are not in breach of UK air quality limits.

"This is a very sad day for everyone involved with the brickworks, both past and present," said Mr Szymanski.

"But on the positive side, work has begun on our new headquarters building at Stewartby, and plans are advancing for the total re-development of the area with a mixture of employment, leisure and housing.

"I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the history and success of Stewartby over many decades, and to assure the workforce that we will be doing everything we can to protect their interests over the coming months."

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Do you work at Stewartby brickworks, or did you work there in the past? Email your thoughts or memories to Paul Fisher by clicking on the byline link at the top of this story.