MORE than 80 jobs are expected to be lost at a struggling manufacturer.

Bosses at Mono Containers, in Durham, are seeking 83 redundancies - but unions said they were hoping to reduce that number.

Mono has blamed the job cuts on lost contracts and rising oil prices.

However, workers at the factory have accused the company of deliberately reducing operations at the site to make way for a planned retail development.

A planning application for a retail park was submitted to Durham City Council by Mono Containers and Sunniside Properties last year.

A worker at the factory, who did not wish to be named, said: "We feel that we are not getting the full story here. Our jobs are going and it can't be a coincidence that there are plans already laid down for a retail park here.

"It is very difficult for workers here who feel they are being betrayed."

Mono, which makes pre-formed plastic cups for the food industry, was contacted by The Northern Echo but declined to comment.

Union leaders said they had questioned bosses about the claims, but said it was unlikely the business was being wound-down to make way for a retail park.

Nick Halton, of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said he was confident the number of redundancies could be reduced.

Mr Halton said: "We are in discussions with the company at the moment with regard to a redundancy criteria and we have certainly not lost all hope yet."

Mr Halton said a meeting with bosses was planned for next week.

The company is hoping to manage the cuts, which will be across the whole business, through voluntary redundancies.

The cuts are part of a reorganisation of the company away from the loss-making areas.

Earlier this year, German yogurt maker Mller - a major customer - withdrew its business.

Last year, 35 staff were made redundant and this year, another 60 have lost their jobs. Only weeks ago, the company made another 18 workers redundant