Blow as firm to axe workers

Telford suffered a jobs blow today when one of the town's major Japanese employers announced up to 45 redundancies. Company bosses have now informed union officials.

Ogihara Europe, of Hortonwood, which supplies several car manufacturers in the UK, wants to reduce its 210-strong workforce to cut costs.

It blames reduced sales in the motor industry and rising material and energy prices.

Company bosses have told union officials and entered a 30-day consultation period.

Although volunteers for redundancy are being sought, the company says it is inevitable there will be compulsory job losses by the end of May.

Human resources senior manager Louise Alexander said today: "We are an independent supplier of major body pressings, assemblies and tooling to a number of vehicle manufacturers in the UK.

"Recently there has been a reduction in output across most vehicle manufacturers.

"It is therefore necessary for Ogihara Europe to address its costs in line with reducing sales and increasing material and energy prices."

She said Ogihara was consulting its workforce and trade union officials in line with its redundancy policy, as well as trying to find alternative jobs for people in the local area.

"It is estimated a maximum of up to 45 positions may be at risk of becoming redundant across the company and we are actively trying to reduce this figure," she added.