It is understood that staff at Ballymena Meats in County Antrim have been given their notice ahead of the completion of a sale of the company.

According to sources, the company is expected to close in early August, with rumours circulating around the industry that it has been sold on to another NI meat processor, WD Meats in Coleraine. It is thought that WD might be interested in taking their DAERA contract to kill TB reactor cattle to the Ballymena site. It is yet to confirm the deal.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal Audrey Wales, mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, confirmed it was "liaising with Ballymena Meats on an ongoing basis, however, we will not be issuing further comment until the company has made its own statement".

Over the years Ballymena Meats routinely slaughtered over 20,000 cattle per year, as well as some sheep and also pigs. However, throughput is currently down to around half those levels.

The company mostly serviced meat wholesale and butcher trade. It was established in 1981 by Brian Kearney and James Murray.