A NORTH-EAST tea factory could be closed with the loss of 260 jobs.

Tea firm Twinings yesterday announced plans to cut nearly 400 UK jobs as it shifts its manufacturing focus overseas.

The firm said it was considering a move to close its North Shields tea packaging site, which employs 263, in September 2011.

Production for the UK market would be moved to its plant in Andover, where there would also be 129 potential job cuts.

Twinings wants to move production closer to its major markets and plans to build a new factory in Poland and enlarge its site in China.

The firm has seen its sales growth slow, driven by lower demand for its premium teas although its Everyday range remains popular, according to parent company Associated British Foods (ABF).

Twinings launched a new campaign to promote its speciality teas in May. ABF said this had produced “encouraging results”.

Marcus Cotter-Stone, Twinings’ international supply director, said: ‘‘This is a very difficult, but necessary, step which will allow Twinings to remain competitive in our markets worldwide and take full advantage of future growth opportunities.’’ He said, while the firm has had some overseas manufacturing capacity for many years, Twinings was not operating efficiently as most of its tea is imported into the UK, packaged and re-exported.

‘‘It is important to emphasise that this proposal does not affect the Twinings people drink in the UK, which will continue to be manufactured here,’’ he added.

It is anticipated that most job losses would not take place until September 2011 and there will be no cuts for at least a year.