A BUSINESS in Thrupp which produces metal castings is to close this month.

D.M. Foundries has announced that its business in Stafford Mill will shut on December 20.

The company, which was founded in 1983, specialises in sand casting processes and has been involved in many projects throughout Stroud, including making bike racks, map display posts, bollards and finger pointers directing you where to visit.

One of the current projects in Stroud is the renovation of the canal network. Over a six month period D.M. Foundries produced patterns and castings to construct 12 working lock gate gears.

In a statement owners Andy and Paul Morris said: "It is with great sadness and after a lot of heart ache that we have decided that after 45 years running DM Foundries the time has come for us to cease trading.

"We will officially close the Foundry on 20th December 2019 which is the end of our financial year.

"We realise this will cause issues for you as our customers and suppliers alike and this is something we would like to try to minimise for you as much as possible.

"With this in mind, we are willing to continue to source castings for you from other Foundries that we have built good working relationships with over the years for a period if you wish and to help in a hand over.

"Alternatively, we can help signpost you to other Foundries who may be able to continue to make your castings.

"We will be spending the next few months sorting through patterns which you will need to collect from us and anticipate doing this into 2020 for a couple of months,

"We would like to thank you for your support and friendship over our years at DM Foundries.

"We have been blessed to have met and worked with some wonderful people along the way."

See: dmfoundries.co.uk/