More jobs to go at Leyland

LEYLAND Trucks is planning to cut a further 250 jobs and double its Christmas shutdown period to two weeks.

The business, owned by the US giant Paccar, said it had experienced a “severe decline” in demand for its vehicles.

It has started a 90-day consultation period with its staff at the Lancashire factory, the UK’s sole truck-making plant.

The move comes weeks after Leyland announced around 100 jobs cuts as it responded to a 40% drop in sales of heavy trucks across Europe. Some 1,300 people work at the factory which builds DAF trucks.

In an open letter to staff managing director Jim Sumner said: “I must stress at this stage these are potential redundancies. If finally required, they will only take effect, at the earliest, on or after February 12, 2009.

“As described earlier, the company is making every effort to increase sales to help minimise or avoid redundancies. It has also agreed with unions to extend the current voluntary redundancy programme.”

In a further blow to Lancashire, Loans.co.uk said it was closing its Preston office with the loss of 78 jobs.