Staff laid off at Peterborough fireworks factory as coronavirus closes public celebrations

It is understood that about 70 manufacturing staff at pyrotechnics manufacturer and supplier Le Maitre, in Fourth Drove, have been told to stay at home after a drop in demand for its products.

Bosses say while the business is still open its manufacturing operations have been suspended for the forseeable future.

The spread of coronavirus has forced the cancellation of big audience concerts, sporting events and theme parks around the globe, which in turn has seen the demand for Le Maitre's fireworks, smoke, haze and fog machines and other special effects plummet.

Karen Cornacchia, managing director of Le Maitre,which has sites in Surrey and the USA, said: "I have taken the unprecedented step of laying off staff across our four sites, although our business remains open."

She said about 70 staff had been laid off and they were no longer being paid.

She added: "We have built up sufficient inventory at our factories to continue trading normally but given the closures of theme parks, sporting events and concerts globally, we have suspended manufacturing until the demand returns.

"We have chemists working on site to develop new products, we are dispatching products to long running shows in London and continue to offer a normal service to those requesting pyrotechnics and machines."

Le Maitre was created in 1977 with most research, development and manufacturing taking place in the UK.

Its pyrotechnics are designed and manufactured in Peterborough and its smoke, haze, flame and other special effects machines are developed and produced in Mitcham, Surrey, which is also its head office.

The company also has a base in Las Vegas and a new pyrotechnics factory in Missouri.

Its products sell across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.