A STEADY decline in orders is forcing the closure of one of Northern Ireland's longest established linen companies. The management at Thomas Sinton Flax Spinners has told the 108 workers at its Tandragee, Co Armagh, factory that there is work for only another three months and that, once that has been completed, the company will be forced to close.

Sinton's, which has been in business for more than 100 years, is believed to have run into difficulties shortly before Christmas and the factory had recently been working on a one week on, one week off basis.

The news is a further blow to the Northern Ireland linen industry, which is suffering from a widespread downturn in orders. Earlier this year, Lamont Holdings announced that its Dungannon, Co Tyrone based linen manufacturing subsidiary Moygashel had lost money in 1995, the first time this had happened for several years.