BELFAST — A Belfast, Maine, company has temporarily laid off about 70 workers after material used in one its chemical protective suits had to be reworked.

Little River Apparel gave notice to the employees on Thursday. The company has about 240 workers, most of whom are handicapped and disabled, who make chemical warfare protection uniforms for the military.

Manufacturing Director Richard Savage tells the Bangor Daily News he expects the laid-off workers to be back on the job by the end of January.

He said the company had to rework some of the tape material on some of the suits, and that new suits are undergoing testing by the material manufacturer and the Defense Department.