INSURER Royal & Sun Alliance is to cut 1,200 jobs following a decision to close its UK life operations to new business, it said yesterday.

The group said it would cut 970 jobs across three sites - Bristol, Liverpool and Horsham, in Sussex.

In addition, it is cutting 230 jobs from its sales force across the UK, bringing total job cuts in its UK life business to 1,200. One job will go in the life field team, selling life insurance, in Newcastle, the only job loss in the North-East.

The cutbacks are not expected to impact on the insurer's office at Doxford Park, Sunderland.

A spokesman said 520 jobs would go in Bristol, 250 in Liverpool and 200 in Horsham.

Duncan Boyle, UK chief executive at R&SA, said: "This has been a difficult decision that will affect many colleagues but we believe it is the right one that is in the best interests of the group and the UK company as a whole."

A spokesman said: "We do have a significant presence in Horsham, Liverpool and Bristol in general insurance, and will be looking wherever possible to redeploy people wherever we can."

The group will maintain some life operations in Liverpool and Horsham but will close its Bristol life operations.

The move means job numbers in its UK life business will fall from 2,500 to 1,300. The cuts will be made over the next 18 months.

R&SA said it had been undertaking full consultations with union representatives and these would continue to take place.