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Trade union Unite blamed supermarkets' "price squeeze" on dairy producers for the 261 job losses the plant closures will cause.

A Union spokesperson said Dairy Crest was "caught between the unrelenting pressure of the supermarkets to drive down prices for customers and the legitimate desire of farmers to get a decent price for their milk."

Unite spokesperson Matt Draper said, "We will be working closely with Dairy Crest to mitigate the job losses that are a severe blow to our hard working and dedicated members and their families. We will be investigating whether employees can be relocated to other Dairy Crest plants. As doorstep delivery moves over to the use of plastic bottles, what we are seeing here is the death knell of the traditional milkman delivering bottled milk to the doorstep as the nation sleeps.

"The reason for this is that supermarkets are selling four pints for £1, while dairy companies' delivery prices are 79 pence a pint – they just can't compete. Companies, such as Dairy Crest, are being squeezed by highly competitive supermarkets and dairy farmers seeking a decent return for the milk they produce."