Around 80 people are set to lose their jobs at the RAC’s landmark control centre overlooking the M6 after the motoring organisation lost a contract.

The staff affected work in a dedicated Audi and Volkswagen contact centre at the Bescot complex, which employs around 900 technical and call centre staff.

RAC said today that the Volkswagen Group, which also owns Audi, had decided to create a national VW contact centre, and was awarding this work to a rival firm, call centre business Ventura.

Ninety people working on Audi customer service and technical support, and on VW commercial vehicle support, are to lose their jobs by the end of this year. Most will leave by the end of May. Eighty are from Bescot and ten from Milton Keynes.

A further 50 people working on the roadside rescue service for Audi have not been affected.

RAC spokeswoman Jenny Chapman said today: “Subject to contractual obligations, this business will transfer to the new supplier, Ventura, by the end of May for customer service and brand support and by the end of 2007 for technical support.”

She added it was possible that some of the affected staff could transfer to Ventura and talks were ongoing over any arrangements.