WORKERS at a North-East factory are hoping their plant will escape the latest axe swung by the world's biggest household appliance producer.

Swedish firm Electrolux has announced plans to slim down its massive global workforce by 2,000 as it prepares for an uncertain year in the US market place.

Staff in Spennymoor, County Durham, where the firm, whose stable of household names includes Flymo and AEG, has a plant making cookers, are hoping they will be spared job losses.

Last year was a record-breaking one for the North-East plant, but in 1999 Electrolux cut 650 jobs when it closed its refrigerator production plant in the town.

The location of these latest losses has not been announced yet.

The latest cuts were announced by chief executive Michael Treschow. Since he took up the post, in 1997, the firm has axed 14,500 jobs worldwide.

Electrolux, which operates the Flymo lawnmower factory in nearby Newton Aycliffe, employs about 86,500 people around the world.

Gerry Hunter, regional officer for the AEEU engineering union, said: "One of the things we are hopeful about is that Spennymoor is not going to be affected this time.

"They have had their best year for many years and they have enjoyed some great productivity gains and been very busy.

"At one stage, there were in excess of 300 temporary employees there."

He said one of the problems was the strength of the pound, with 40 per cent of the firm's products in the euro zone, and renewed calls for the Government to open the debate on the single currency soon.

Sedgefield borough councillor Bill Waters, the cabinet member for regeneration, said: "I would be surprised if Spennymoor's in that - I hope not. Hopefully Spennymoor will escape this time.