Three of Stoke-on-Trent's biggest pottery manufacturers have stopped production amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Churchill China, Portmeirion and Steelite International have announced that they are halting manufacturing at their North Staffordshire-based headquarters for at least three weeks.
Sandyford-based Churchill China says it will look at re-opening when the 'business environment it clearer' while Stoke-based Portmeirion said shop floor workers will be placed on furloughed leave for the next three weeks.
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In a statement, Churchill China said: "The hospitality sector we serve has already been affected by COVID-19 and the level of impact on Churchill’s operations remains uncertain.
"Management has acted quickly to develop and implement plans aimed at preserving the safety of our employees and the long term health of the business.
"These contingency plans have focused on significantly reducing the cash cost of our operations in the short term.
"Substantially the largest part of Churchill’s cost base is represented by direct materials, manpower and energy costs.
"Recent announcements in relation to government support for employment will facilitate this cost reduction programme and we have taken the decision to temporarily suspend manufacturing operations until the business environment is clearer.
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"This will significantly reduce our cost of operation without impacting customer service levels which will be fulfilled from existing inventory."
Phil Atherton, group sales and marketing director at Portmeirion, said: "All of our retail shops closed on the 24th and now we are in the process of closing down our factory on London Road which will remain closed for three weeks.
"Staff who are unable to work from home are now going through the furloughed process.
"We still have a limited number of staff working at our warehouse facility at Trentham Lakes which will remain open to serve our global customers. We serve around 75 different countries who all still need stock.
"However we have imposed social distancing and hand-washing rules for the remaining staff on site in line with government guidelines.
"We want the factory to reopen as quickly as possible but we will be guided by the government around when this can happen.
"The most important thing for us throughout all of this is the health and welfare of our staff."
At Steelite, around 650 employees have been put on leave until after the Easter shutdown - but will be on full pay until at least April 20.
A Steelite Spokesperson said: "Given the unprecedented set of circumstances created by the Coronovirus COVID-19 pandemic, Steelite International has taken further steps to safeguard its employees and sustain the business.
"Beginning March 24th, the majority of Steelite employees have been placed on furloughed leave until the week commencing April 20th. This affects employees at the company's Middleport factory and distribution centre as well as the Cross 50 warehousing facility at Newcastle-under-Lyme. It also applies to office-based employees.
"Considering the difficult times, the business will pay 100 per cent of each employees' contracted basic pay during this time.
"We will continue to communicate with employees during this period and will continue to review our position in line with the latest government advice.”