SEVENTEEN jobs are to go at Thorn Lighting.

The cuts will be made mainly through voluntary redundancies as part of a restructure at the factory in Spennymoor, County Durham.

Thorn is looking to reduce its workforce over the next 18 months.

"This should happen through natural wastage and people retiring," said operations director David Johnston. "At this point in time, we are just resizing and looking for voluntary redundancies."

Thorn, which is owned by Austrian company Zumtobel AG, has plans to build a multi-million pound factory by 2008 on the Green Lane Industrial Estate, in Spennymoor.

Cathie Bainbridge, of the Amicus union, said yesterday: "There may be about four or five compulsory redundancies, but the vast majority will be voluntary and they will get the full package.

"Thorn Lighting has promising times ahead and will be moving into a new factory, which I think is fantastic."