Workers offered job loss reprieve

Up to 180 workers facing redundancy from a closure-threatened call centre in Powys have been given a reprieve until the end of the year, it emerged today.

Bosses at Shop Direct in Newtown have now given workers the option of staying on until the centre closes in December.

The closure date has been extended to allow time to investigate the possibility of a third party coming forward to save the call centre and the jobs.

Cara Newton, communications officer for Shop Direct, said today: "We can confirm that the proposed closure date for the Newtown contact centre has been extended to the end of December to allow time to investigate further options with third parties for avoiding redundancies at Newtown."

The decision has been welcomed by Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik who led a campaign to save the centre, which is Newtown's second biggest employer.

All staff at the town's Shop Direct were told last month that they were among 1,500 workers across the country who would lose their jobs when four call centres close.

Mr Opik said: "180 jobs have been saved for now and it gives us the breathing space to sort out the situation and a permanent solution. It's great news."

Sarah Fisher, one of the workers said: "We hope that the long-term future of the call centre can be secured."