HUNDREDS of job losses at mobile phone operator T-Mobile will affect one in eight staff, it was revealed last night.

The company's customer services division in Doxford, Sunderland, will also be affected.

T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom announced last month it was shedding 2,200 jobs across Europe to reduce costs.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said it had learned that nearly 800 jobs will be cut at seven sites in the UK at Hatfield, Hertfordshire; Sunbury, Surrey; Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales; Doxford; Greenock, Scotland; and in Warrington and Solihull.

A number of retail outlets will also be affected, the union said.

CWU organiser Nick Childs said: "This announcement will come as an enormous blow to our hard-working members at T-Mobile. They are the ones who have stuck by the company through thick and thin.

"Now the company is repaying their loyalty and hard work by throwing one in eight of staff on the dole."

"The union will be doing everything in its power to support and back its members to protect their jobs. As always, we would like to do this in a grown-up way through mutually beneficial negotiations with management. However, we will not hesitate in our duty to our members in taking further action if this becomes necessary."