UNCERTAINTY is hanging over hundreds of jobs in the UK following Eastman Kodak's decision to cut 15,000 staff worldwide.

The US company blamed the popularity of digital cameras for the lay-offs, which represent about 20 per cent of its workforce.

It follows a sharp drop in net profits to £10.3m in the three months to December 31, compared with £61.3m a year ago.

The company revealed the impact of the digital revolution on its business last week, when it announced the end to production of traditional film cameras in the US, Canada, and western Europe.

Kodak, which also cut 6,000 staff last year, hopes the job cuts will enable it to save up to £542m in 2007.

It said: "The objective of these actions is to achieve a business model appropriate for Kodak's traditional businesses, and to sharpen the company's competitiveness in digital markets."

The majority of the job cuts will be in global manufacturing, selected traditional businesses and corporate administration, Kodak said.

A spokesman would not say if any of the company's 2,700 UK staff would be affected.

Kodak has a UK sales and marketing base at Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire, with three manufacturing facilities at Harrow, in north west London, Kirkby, on Merseyside, and Annesley, in Nottinghamshire. It also manages a network of seven processing laboratories.

She said: "At the moment there is an evaluation process going on and it's too early to say where these job cuts will be implemented."