THOUSANDS of council workers have received letters to say their job is at risk.

Local authorities across the North-East and North Yorkshire are pushing ahead with a first wave of redundancies after drastic cuts in their Government funding.

One of the region’s biggest authorities, North Yorkshire County Council, confirmed last night that it had written to 900 employees.

Workers were told their jobs could be changed as part of a major restructuring.

A spokesman said: “Some of those changes are likely to result in redundancies in due course and all efforts are being made to redeploy any staff affected into vacant posts.”

A 90-day consultation has been launched for some of the changes.

The authority has already made about 70 redundancies.

Darlington Borough Council said yesterday that it was consulting on 475 potential redundancies as it attempts to find £22m of savings by 2014.

The consultation will end on February 4.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has told 900 staff their jobs are at risk. Up to 300 positions are expected to go.

Hartlepool Borough Council has written to about 450 workers advising them that their jobs are at risk, although the number of redundancies is anticipated to be significantly lower.

A spokesman said: “Consultation meetings have taken place with affected staff, and work is ongoing to try and identify alternatives to redundancy wherever possible.

“No final decisions have been taken and we are not in a position to give actual redundancy figures.”

Only 27 workers at Durham County Council have been told their job is at risk, but hundreds of letters are expected to go out later this month when councillors agree a new financial strategy.

The council has previously announced plans to scrap 1,600 jobs, with its entire 10,041-strong directly-employed workforce asked to consider early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

The authority has to save nearly £115m over the next four years.

Other councils in the region have not yet drawn up firm plans to make redudancies.

Under threat

Darlington: Consulting on 475 potential redundancies
Durham County Council: 27 told their job at risk so far, although 1,600 potentially being axed
Hambleton: No letters sent
Harrogate: Small number of Harrogate International Centre staff received letters
Hartlepool: 450 staff advised that their job is at risk
Middlesbrough: N/A
North Yorkshire: 900 workers told their job is at risk. About 70 already made redundant
Redcar: 900 staff told their job is at risk. Up to 300 positions to be axed.
Richmondshire: No letters sent
Ryedale: No letters sent
Stockton: 250 jobs at risk
Sunderland: No letters sent