UNION bosses have refused to rule out the possibility of industrial action after it was announced this week that the Ofsted office in Preston is to close with the loss of 62 jobs.

Workers at the Office of Standards in Education (Ofsted) were told on Tuesday (November 23) that their jobs will be made redundant by March next year.

The closure of the office at Ringway House, Ringway, is part of a programme to axe eight Ofsted support centres and 500 jobs nationally.

Derek Roger, national officer for the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: "We are angry by the timing and the scale of the losses.

"It was announced on the day of the Queen's speech in an attempt to bury it."

"Given the way that Ofsted has not acted constructively the threat of industrial action has to be a real option."

Mr Roger added the union was worried the programme to axe the jobs could impact on Ofsted's service delivery because of low morale.

A spokesman for Ofsted said: "All affected staff at the centres will be offered a range of options including relocation to other regional offices, voluntary redundancy on enhanced terms, or assistance finding a job in another government department."

David Bell, chief inspector of schools, added: "I deeply regret that as part of this programme it will be necessary to close some of our offices, but these changes are essential for Ofsted to continue to deliver high quality good value services for the taxpayer."