SWINE flu has forced the cancellation of a Royal visit to a state-of-the-art new JCB factory on the outskirts of Uttoxeter.

Prince Andrew called off his engagement with the digger giant at the last minute amid suspected cases of the disease among workers.

The Duke of York had been due to officially open the company's new £40 million Heavy Products factory, just off the A50, on Wednesday afternoon.

However, as bosses made final preparations and police performed a security check, JCB issued a statement confirming the visit had been postponed.

A spokesman for the Rocester-based firm said: "A very small number of suspected swine flu cases have been reported at JCB, including two at JCB Heavy Products, Uttoxeter. As a result, The Duke of York has postponed a visit to officially open the factory until further notice."

A spokesman for Prince Andrew said three further engagements in Manchester, due to take place on the same day, had also been postponed for similar reasons.

He said: "It was decided that all the engagements should be cancelled as a precautionary measure.

"We will look to reschedule, but you have to appreciate that the Duke attends 600 engagements a year."

Prince Andrew, who is the UK's special representative for international trade and investment, had not only been due to open the plant but also present JCB Heavy Products with a Queen's Award for Enterprise following a 60 per cent increase in exports of tracked and wheeled excavators.

JCB currently employs a total of 3,900 workers at its Staffordshire factories at Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle and Rugeley.

A spokesman said the company had put in place a contingency plan to protect the workforce.

He added: "The number of suspected cases is only in single figures and we finish for three weeks on Friday for a holiday. We are issuing regular advice to our employees on what to do should they suspect they have swine flu."

JCB Heavy Products completed the first phase of its move from its Pinfold Street plant to the purpose-built factory in August last year.

It is hoped the new site will allow the digger-maker to capitalise on future growth potential when the construction equipment markets recover.

Prince Andrew's visit was scheduled to be the latest in a long line of Royal visits, the latest of which saw Prince William taken on a tour of the Rocester headquarters in April.

Swine flu has already been confirmed at Uttoxeter's other major employer, Fox's Biscuits.