Job losses at major Burnley manufacturer

Futaba Manufacturing UK, which has a plant in Liverpool Road, Burnley, has suffered from a downward trend in volume, according to managing director Kevin Schofield.

One of Burnley's biggest skilled engineering employers, the company boasts clients including Toyota, Jaguar and Land Rover but is thought to be suffering from the general economic climate.

Mr Schofield said: "The job losses are expected to be up to 50 but probably less than that. They will be a mixture of voluntary and compulsory, although we expect the vast majority to be voluntary.

"We are in communication with the workers on a daily basis through the unions and consultations will start next week. The redundancies are down to declining car sales in the UK, which is part of the general economic climate."

Mr Schofield dismissed suggestions that Brexit had had any impact on the business and described as "rubbish" speculation that the long-term future of Futaba was unclear.

He added: "I don't think Brexit has anything to do with the downturn. In terms of the long-term future, we are one year into a five year contract with Toyota."

The Japanese-owned company also has a plant in Derby.