WORKERS in the problem-plagued textile industry received more bad news yesterday when it was revealed that Courtaulds would be axing jobs, this time in Yorkshire.

Staff at the firm's West Auckland factory, in County Durham, were told by management that a sister operation in Rotherham has earmarked up to 240 redundancies at the factory - but were reassured about their own futures.

GMB union regional organiser, Jackie Woodall, said "This kind of announcement makes staff worry, but management are only trying to keep workers informed officially of what is happening in the group."

In November, union leaders reassured workers after redundancies were announced at sister sites in Peterlee and at Blyth in Northumberland.

About 500 people are employed at the West Auckland factory and the GMB is finalising details of a visit by local MP Derek Foster and MEP Mo O'Toole in a bid to reassure workers that everything is being done to ensure production continues on the site.