Wedgwood to freeze production at Staffordshire factory for 90 days

Firm’s owner says move, which will place 70 workers on temporary leave, is in response to weaker demand

The owner of the ceramics business Wedgwood has said it will freeze production at its factory in Staffordshire for 90 days in a move that will place 70 workers on temporary leave.

The shutdown, which the firm’s owner, Fiskars Group, described as a short-term measure, will start on 29 September in response to weaker demand in some of its most important markets.