Fears were growing today over the future of the jobs of 300 textile workers employed in Northern Ireland by a sole supplier to Marks & Spencer.
Desmonds confirmed that it was carrying out a review of operations in its last remaining factory in the province - a jeans production plant at Newbuildings inDerry.
A spokesman refused to speculate about the result of the review, saying only: "It will be completed as soon as possible, it could be days rather thanweeks."
But Desmonds has already shut five factories in Northern Ireland this year with the loss of more than 800jobs, each after a review of operations.
Work went in January with the closure of factories in Derry and Dungiven, Co Derry, and with the closure in May of plants in Omagh, Co Tyrone; Swatragh, Co Derry; and Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh.
Price pressures have forced the company to move work abroad where it employs nearly 5,500 people in the Near and Middle East. It has its own plants in Sri Lanka, Turkey and Bangladesh and a number of other joint ventures.
Should the last remaining factory close, it will mark the end of a long history of production of clothing for Marks & Spencer in Northern Ireland.