BOSSES at a telecoms firm have attempted to throw a lifeline to devastated Shop Direct workers in Burnley, where 420 jobs were lost last week.

Nelson-based Daisy Communications has just opened a new extension at their head-quarters in Lindred Road, Lomeshaye.

And it could even-tually house up to 350 workers.

The call centre posi-tions at Daisy would mirror those being scrapped by Shop Direct at their offices in Kingsway, Burnley.

Management at the Burnley company have said that they will be retaining around 350 positions to support their online ventures.

But so far no announ-cement has been made about where those vac-ancies would exist.

The company has other sites in the Wrexham, Sunderland and Oldham areas.

Daisy’s chief operat-ing officer Gareth Kir-kwood said: “Our new office extension has the capacity for 350 staff which we will be look-ing to fill as we continue to grow.

“We pride ourselves on employing talented local people whenever we can, and if we can help anyone facing red-undancy, all the better.

“We have a number of positions available at the moment and even more in the pipeline, so we are urging people to get in touch now.”

Daisy has expanded rapidly over the past five years Several deals have been struck in the past 12 months which have seen the firm swallow up smaller rivals.

Further talks, about the Shop Direct situ-ation brokered by Burnley Council and involving chief execu-tive Steve Rumbelow and leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle, are set to take place this week.