Ketton-based Castle Cement closed the kiln at the end of June, blaming the "current economic climate", and now general manager Gareth Price says that it may be October or November before it is re-started.

He said: "The stock position means we are not re-opening the kiln at the moment.

"We are looking towards October or November to get the kiln back up and running."

Castle Cement produces some 1.4Mt of cement a year and employs about 360 people.