A COMMUNITY has been left shellshocked after a promise of more jobs, massive investment and prosperity was whipped out from under their feet.

Councillors, civic officials and business leaders are asking what comes next after GSK pulled the plug on a £350m investment plan for Ulverston.

Yesterday (July 19) the pharmaceutical giant said it would no longer be funding the development of a new biopharm drugs facility.

South Lakeland district councillor Graham Vincent, economic portfolio holder, said the news came completely out of the blue.

He said: "We are shocked and disappointed to see the announcement from GSK. We have been in meetings and discussions with GSK in the last few weeks about unrelated matters and there was no suggestion that this announcement was on the horizon."

"We have been told by the management at GSK in Ulverston that the site remains very profitable and, should one of the future options be to look at selling the Ulverston operation, that it would be an attractive proposition for any potential purchaser."

Business leader Chris Nelson, who heads up the Ulverston Business Improvement District, described the loss as a "double blow".

He said: "This is very sad news for Ulverston. A lot of people have put a huge amount of effort into securing the original commitment to the new plant, and it was a cornerstone for the economic future of the town.

"The fact that GlaxoSmithKline is now reviewing its future ownership of the existing facilities makes this a double blow."