A clothing manufacturer is to shed 27 jobs at a North-East factory, it emerged last night.

Sara Lee Courtaulds, of the North West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, County Durham, announced the cut to its staff yesterday after revealing last week that the firm was shedding 44 jobs at the Peterlee plant and two in the Midlands.

A reduced sales forecast was blamed for the decision.

Derek Cattell, regional organiser of the GMB union, said: "I am in consultations with the company about when and how the redundancies will take effect. I have also met with the workforce and they are shocked that it is so many."

The Peterlee factory employs 150 people, and has a sister plant in West Auckland, County Durham. They were originally part of the Claremont Garments group, before being taken over by Courtaulds three years ago.

Founded in 1849 as Samuel Courtauld, the firm was once one of Britain's most profitable manufacturers. It rose to prominence as underwear supplier to Marks and Spen-cer and owner of the Gossard and Berlei bra brands, but following a downturn in the textiles industry, was taken over by American cake company Sara Lee in 2000.

No one from Sara Lee Courtaulds was available for comment.