Hundreds of people will lose their jobs after drinks manufacturer Britvic announced it was closing one of its UK factories.

The factory in Norwich will close its doors in 2019, with Britvic announcing Robinsons and Fruit Shoot manufacturing will be transferred to other sites.

Staff will be offered "help to find alternative employment ", Britvic has said.

In a statement to the BBC the drinks manufacturer said: "Transferring production will improve efficiency and productivity and reduce our environmental impact."

Britvic has been based at Carrow Works, which it co-owns with Unilever and shares with Colman's Mustard, since 1925.

Fruit Shoot is currently manufactured at the site (
Image:
PA)

Operations will now be moved to Rugby, East London and Leeds.

Employee representatives have been involved in the consultations, along with the GMB and Unite unions.

A total of 249 people currently work at the site, but several of them are already on 12-month fixed-term contracts.

Robinsons will be moved to another site (
Image:
Publicity Free Pic)

Chief executive Simon Litherland said: "This was not a proposal that we made lightly and we understand that the outcome of the collective consultation process will be upsetting for our colleagues in Norwich.

"It is a sad and difficult time."

He also thanked everyone who worked at the site for their "hard work and dedication".

Colman's has also previously said it could close its operations at the site if Britvic made the decision to close.