From cough drops to missiles: 12 lost factories that employed generations of Mancunians

Right at the heart of the industrial revolution, Manchester has been home to thriving factories that have employed generations of Mancunians.

From biscuit manufacturers to companies producing state-of-the-art weapons systems, Greater Manchester has been home to a wide variety of industries, many of which helped put the region on the commercial map.

Some of the world's leading brands still have factories in Greater Manchester including Kellogg's, AstraZeneca and McVitie's. However, not all the factories that were major employers in the region still exist today.

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Over the years, many businesses have come and gone, but fond memories, relationships and images of these vital workplaces still remain to this day. Many were around for so long, they will have seen children working alongside their parents, or even grandparents, on the factory floor.

So while workers no longer clock on at these factories, we can still look back at when they employed so many in Greater Manchester. Here, we take a look back at 12 well-known factories that we've loved and lost.

The list below isn't intended to be comprehensive, we selected a number of factories from across the region that have closed their doors or been demolished. But, if there is a factory you feel we should have included, share your memories let us know in the comments section.

Throughout the 20th century, the manufacture of steel was a major source of employment for the Salford suburb of Irlam. First opening in 1910 as the Partington Steel and Iron Company, it