ONE of the last independent cooperative societies in the North has made one of its bosses redundant in a cost-cutting exercise.

William Craig, who has been retail manager at the Stanhope and Weardale Co-operative Society, in County Durham, for the past five years, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the decision.

However, he bore no malice towards the board, which runs five stores in Weardale.

"I knew from the past few board meetings that something was in the wind, but it still came as quite a shock when I was told I was losing my job," said Mr Craig, who started as a van driver with the Co-op 13 years ago.

He said he understood the move was taken "for the good of the Co-op" and he could not complain about the redundancy package he had been given.

There had been criticism about the £22,000-a-year salary the society was paying Mr Craig, 35, when it was having to look at ways of boosting trade.

But he said: "I have never asked for a pay rise in two years and managers of other stores, like Asda, got more than me for operating just one store, while I had to look after five."

Chairman Ivan Jones said the board had been advised to make Mr Craig redundant as a means of cutting costs.