Engineering firm FG Wilson is to axe 400 jobs at its factories in Northern Ireland.

A downturn in the south-east Asian market and the strength of sterling has been blamed for the redundancies, which will begin in May.

The company, based in Larne, Co Antrim, is one of the world's biggest diesel generator manufacturers. More than 90 per cent of its output is exported. All sections of the 2,000-strong workforce will be affected by the cuts. The firm also has plants in Monkstown, north Belfast and Springvale, west Belfast. The largest number of jobs to go will be in the port of Larne where it is the town's biggest employer.