ONE of Darwen's largest employers today announced thirty job losses in the first stage of a major re-organisation.

The jobs are to go at ICI Acrylics Europe when the company's Hammersmith headquarters closes and transfers to the manufacturing base in Darwen.

A total of 30 jobs have been axed between the two centres affecting technical staff.

The company is the second Darwen-based industry to announce job cuts in as many days.

Yesterday Wolstenholme Bronze Powders announced that 20 jobs were to go following a down turn in the industry.

The ICI cuts follow the first stage of a business study by management consultants, McKinsey.

Other measures to be brought in at ICI include the reduction of discretionary expenditure and the restructuring of business development activity.

A statement issued by ICI said some jobs would be transferred to Darwen from Hammersmith and employees would be given the option of moving with them therefore it was impossible to say how many losses would be felt locally. A spokeswoman said: "I see this as good news for Darwen, but perhaps not so good for the people in London.

"Obviously they would have to consider their personal circumstances and if they do not want to move with their jobs then they would be available for someone else."

Staff whose jobs have been axed have been asked to apply for other positions within ICI and a redeployment scheme to other businesses within the group is set to come in to force on Monday.

The spokeswoman added that more changes were expected as McKinsey's continued their study. Works' convenor for the GMB at ICI, Frank Connor, said: "I am awfully sad to see that the Hammersmith headquarters idea has not worked out."

Mr Connor has also called a meeting for Wednesday, June 26 - five days after management at the Acrylics firm are due to announce further changes at the Darwen-based company.

In a newsletter to members, Mr Connor said he had called the meeting in order to make public and discussions he had with management.

He added: "I will not carry the burden any longer when it comes to management giving me information that is informal."

Accrington building company Powell Brothers, based at Oxford Mill, Taylor Street West, has gone into voluntary liquidation with the loss of 30 jobs.

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