SIXTY jobs are to be shed by Bury ductwork manufacturers Senior Hargreaves.

But the Lord Street firm hopes to achieve the losses through natural wastage and volunteers for redundancy.

In December, 35 staff, who faced losing their jobs, were given an eleventh hour reprieve when the company clinched a £7 million contract for the new Wembley Stadium.

The planned 60 job losses, out of a workforce of 325, are across the board and embrace technical, clerical, factory production and on-site workers.

Yesterday, a statement from the Senior Hargreaves' board said: "As a result of a downturn in the mechanical, commercial and nuclear markets in which the company operates, we find ourselves with no alternative but to downsize the company. It is our hope that we can achieve this by a combination of natural wastage and voluntary redundancies."

Earlier this week Mr Tom Hardacre, regional officer for the Amicus union, met with management to discuss the announcement. More than half of the posts earmarked for redundancy involve his members.

"Our union is organising a manufacturing demonstration in Manchester on June 5. This is to let the Government know the response of the people to the lack of manufacturing jobs. Numbers continue to fall in this region."

Originally established in 1892, Senior Hargreaves are heating and ventilation contractors and specialist ductwork manufacturers and one of Greater Manchester's largest public sector employers.