Aero-engine company Rolls-Royce has announced 5,000 job losses in the wake of the attacks on the US. Around 3,800 jobs will be axed in the UK, with the firm aiming to achieve the cutbacks by next March.
The company says it expects difficult market conditions for civil aerospace in 2002 and 2003. The group's UK factories are in Derby, Bristol, Hucknall and Ansty in the Midlands, East Kilbride and Sunderland.
Chief executive Mr John Rose says: "We are taking the necessary actions required to resize overheads and to align cost and capacity with demand."
Rolls-Royce says it does not have a breakdown of where jobs will be cut. But unions fear the biggest cutback will be in Derby, the main site for production of Trent and RB211 engines.
The Derby site employs around 10,000 out of a total UK workforce of 30,000. Rolls-Royce employs 43,500 worldwide.
Rolls-Royce, which announced the grim news to union officials and shop stewards today, says it wants to achieve the cuts through voluntary severance measures.
But a spokesman says compulsory redundancies can not be ruled out.
PA