ABOUT 100 call centre jobs could be axed in Stockton after the Abbey banking group revealed the work may be transferred overseas.

The group is reviewing its mortgage call centres and other operational sites with IT services supplier EDS, with which it has a £260m joint venture.

It is reported to be considering moving its billing and call centre operations to India.

The group has already transferred 400 jobs in customer services from Warrington and Derby to Bangalore.

A spokesman for the group said: "Abbey is currently undertaking a review of all its operational sites as part of an ongoing programme to streamline the business.

"The aim is to achieve cost savings through improvements such as reducing duplication of roles, transferring work from smaller centres to larger sites and basing some operations offshore.

"The review is looking at a range of options and Abbey and EDS are working closely together to find the best way to meet the needs and expectations of Abbey's customers."

He added that Abbey workers would be told first about the findings of the review when it was completed.