She is also the owner of the village newsagents.

“It is the employer in the area. Heaven knows where people are going to find work.

“There have been rumours for so many years about the company being in difficulty — then we heard recently that things were getting better — then we heard this.

“What can we do? In a village this size there is little we can offer in the way of help.

“The community council will be there to lend support, listen and do whatever we can.

“This will hit the village quite badly, but quite how, we’re just not sure. That almost makes it worse. If we knew what was going to happen, we could prepare — but we’ve just no idea.

“It’s not just the jobs that are a concern. The company owns all the open spaces in the village and now we are worried about the community garden, the ranger centre and the parks.”

“The mill was due to close next week for workers to take their annual leave. Many employees may now have to cancel booked holidays for fear of financial difficulties.”

COLIN MORTIMER: “The heart and soul would be ripped out of the village with the mill closing.

“It’s going to have a big effect here and it is a shame it’s being done this way. People were expecting the mill to be open for many years to come. When we heard talk of a new housing development behind the mill, everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“They are even trying to close the post office at the moment, we have all written in protest. If that closes too we would have to go Leuchars or St Andrews.

DAVE SKENE: “A number of people in the area will suffer during the forthcoming holiday period,” said Guardbridge fish and chip shop owner.

“This will hurt the village big style. The working population of the mill was about to go on holiday next week and are facing having to cancel their holidays, as they don’t want to come back and find themselves out of a job,” he said.

“I know someone that was in the same job in St Andrews for 20 years and just changed jobs to come to the paper mill a month ago, it’s a tragedy.”

LIZ SPEED: “I feel for the huge number of families where both husband and wife will lose their jobs,” said the owner of Something Different Hair Salon in Guardbridge,

“The mill always supported the community and always helped out with charities and especially with the local school. That’s all going to go now.

“But, at the same time, we have to remain positive. Often, when one door closes another opens and we have to hope that happens here.”