Shocked staff working for a 284-year-old business that has plunged into administration were left in tears as they were told their jobs had been axed.

Sixty-seven people were made redundant on Friday as Chartham Paper Mill, near Canterbury, called in insolvency specialists from firm Interpath Advisory.

Among them was Nicholas Harrison, who had to unpack his overalls and work boots from the locker he had been using for the previous 31 years.

Describing the news as a “kick in the nuts”, the former machine assistant says the announcement came “completely out the blue”.

The 54-year-old told KentOnline: “One minute we’ve got a job, and all of a sudden we don’t have one. We had no knowledge it was going to happen.

“I loved my job a lot. We all had good friends there, mates, and all went out together and saw each other out once a month.

“It’s the way they’ve done it that makes it feel like you’ve been kicked in the nuts.”

Having finished a night shift on Thursday morning, Mr Harrison returned to his Thanington home and went to bed.

He woke to an email informing employees they needed to attend a meeting at the mill at 3.30pm.

Workers are said to have been – unbeknown to them – split into two groups; those who were being kept on and those who were set to be made redundant.

And once inside the site’s new office block, Mr Harrison, along with 66 others, were delivered the devastating news by senior members of the firm running the mill, Arjowiggins.

“They told us there and then that due to the finances we were being made redundant,” he recalled.

“Everyone was in shock and we all just walked out. I saw people in tears.

“I emptied the locker of my personal items and that was it. It’s a blow.

“I just feel sorry for the younger people because we’ve got quite a few with families who started in the last two years.

“They’ve still got to buy food and there’s the energy crisis – it’s not easy at the moment.”

Production at Chartham Mill dates back to 1738, and the site has more recently been known for making translucent paper.

Two years ago 80 jobs were saved at the site when a successful buyout was negotiated following insolvency proceedings against French parent company Arjowiggens and Sequana.

But Interpath administrators Blair Nimmo and Alistair McAlinden were appointed at 10 of the firm’s UK subsidiaries last Thursday.

In all, the joint administrators have made 368 of the company’s 463 UK employees – who were spread between Chartham and another historic mill in Scotland – redundant.

Mr Harrison, who is a dad of three with grandchildren, says staff were told Interpath would attempt to find a buyer. However, he “can’t see that happening as they no longer have the staff”.

Another former employee, who was there for 32 years, added: "It’s very sad news, not only for those who have lost their jobs but for the village as a whole.

“It was the heart of Chartham. Let’s hope that someone can be found to take up the reins once again."

In the wake of the news, Pat Rafferty, Scottish secretary of Unite, says his organisation is looking to take legal action over the “lack of consultation” with trade unions.

Speaking about the situation at a conference in Glasgow, he said: “We will obviously fight against that as much as we can.

“We will be taking legal action against them for the lack of consultation with the union in that regard.”

Administrator Mr Nimmo stresses that Arjowiggins had been rocked by the “severe challenges posed by the pandemic” – despite its “long and proud history dating back more than 260 years”.

He says the company has also been affected by the “significant economic headwinds which have been impacting industrial manufacturing businesses up and down the country, including skyrocketing energy costs”.

“The management team has asked that we pass on their sincere thanks to all employees, customers and suppliers, plus Scottish Enterprise, for their strong support during these very difficult times,” he added.

“They would also like to express their deep regret that there was unfortunately no other option available for this historic Group.”

Interpath bosses also say their priority is to work with the unions, government agencies and local authorities to “provide members of staff with all of the support and information they need, including the information necessary to make claims for redundancy pay”.

They add that “options to achieve the sale of the sites and assets” will be explored over the coming weeks.