Car workers lose jobs as hundreds go

Scores of workers have been made redundant from a car parts company in the West Midlands and hundreds of employees at other firms are facing an uncertain future as the credit crunch continues to bite.

All 600 workers at car parts supplier LSUK, including around 80 in the West Midlands, have been laid off after the business was put into administration following a failed takeover. The Sheffield-based firm, with 53 branches nationwide, was bought by rivals Euro Car Parts (ECP) last week.

It was handed over to administrators yesterday.

Staff turned up for work yesterday to find themselves locked out and notices put up on doors.

Seventeen staff are believed to have been been axed at the branch on the Coneygre Industrial Estate, Birmingham New Road, Tipton, while another 12 went in Dixon Street, Parkfields Wolverhampton.

In other financial gloom and uncertainty across the Midlands and UK today:

* Seven staff at Cannock Chase Council have been made redundant with the closure of a local authority canteen, in a move which is anticipated will save £50,000-a-year.

l* Up to 1,500 jobs are set to be shed at Irish airline Aer Lingus, but this is not expected to affect its Birmingham Airport operation.

* DIY chain Focus confirmed it is to cut 750 jobs across support centres, stores and distribution sites. It has branches in Walsall, Wednesfield and Kingswinford, although none of the 181 stores will close.

* Union officials were today seeking urgent talks with distribution giant DHL in a bid to save 150 jobs threatened with the axe under plans to close a DIY store in Scunthorpe.

A statement from ECP added: "Unfortunately, it became clear, very quickly, that it was simply going to be impossible to continue without the required support, which was not forthcoming."