Up to 19 jobs could be axed at a Shropshire company hit by a decline in volume and value of orders as the credit crunch continues to bite, bosses have revealed.

Staff at ETC Saw Mills, in Elson, Ellesmere, will find out this week if they have been provisionally selected for redundancy.

In a letter to staff, managing director Colin Heskins blames a decline in the volume and value of orders taken and there being no sign of an improvement in the “foreseeable future”.

He said as a result and despite measures already taken, the firm, which employs about 100 staff, was now having to consider compulsory redundancies in a bid to safeguard the business in the long-term.

The letter, dated January 8, says: “Unfortunately, whilst we will consider all feasible alternative options, the company is likely to have to make compulsory redundancies.  

“At this stage, we have not looked at those positions which may be at risk of redundancy and plan to do this over the next few days.

“It is envisaged that up to 19 jobs may be affected from across the operation.”

Mr Heskins said today: “Because of the marketplace at the moment we are trying to safeguard the jobs of the other 90 or so people working here.”

The letter adds that staff selected for redundancy will be notified this week before consultation meetings with those employees are held.

“We know how unsettling this news will be and are sorry to have to announce it,” it says.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson said: “The whole economy is suffering terribly as we saw with the manufacturing figures on Friday. I’m afraid there is going to be more to come.”