· News

Tesco cuts 800 jobs at distribution centre in Harlow

Up to 800 jobs are set to be cut after supermarket Tesco announced the closure of a distribution centre in Harlow, Essex.

Tesco has said it will close the fresh food depot in August after it conducted a "strategic review".

A spokesman for Tesco claimed staff affected by the closure would be offered the opportunity to relocate to one of two new depots in Reading and Dagenham.

"We are working with affected colleagues to support them at this difficult time," he added.

"We'll do everything we can to find alternative roles within Tesco for as many people as possible."

Yesterday car manufacturer Honda announced plans it was scaling back production at its manufacturing plant in Swindon, with staff now working single shifts after the loss of 800 jobs in January.

The move from double to single day shifts is taking place at Car Plant Two on the site at South Marston.

A voluntary redundancy programme opened on 18 February and Honda said there had been a "positive response".

Around 3,500 people are employed at the Swindon plant and the redundancy program will apply to 360 manufacturing employees.

Honda started their 90-day consultation period in January and they are working with Union Unite on job cuts as they still hope to avoid compulsory redundancies.