Vodafone has confirmed it is to make 500 redundancies although it will not be closing any retail outlets, prompting fears HR jobs could be lost.

The mobile communications company currently employs 10,000 staff in the UK and is cutting jobs as part of its plan to save £1 billion by 2010.

A spokesman from Vodafone told HR magazine the redundancies were "across the board" in the firm "affecting all levels" but he could not confirm, despite news reports, if HR staff would lose their jobs.

But it has been confirmed 170 jobs will go at the company's head office at Newbury in Berkshire. Staff are currently being informed how they will be affected.