The downturn in the American economic market is having a knock-on effect in Fermanagh with two companies announcing redundancies in recent days.

Belleek Pottery is the latest company in the County to announce redundancies. They have asked for 11 voluntary redundancies to come forward by this Friday.

Further cutbacks are thought to have occurred at RTD Crawford Sawmills in Lisbellaw, with a number of jobs under threat at the present time.

A spokesperson for Belleek Pottery explained 70 out of the 250 workers at the Belleek Plant were put on a three-day week in March this year to try and cope with the economic pressure the firm was experiencing.

She confirmed that of those 70 staff on reduced hours, 11 will be made redundant.

The spokesperson explained all of the jobs under threat were on the shop floor and that the cuts were necessary to cope with the downturn of sales of the 'traditional' Belleek products in the American market.

RTD Crawford Limited offered no comment on reported job losses at their Lisbellaw site.