A MAJOR beer distribution depot has axed 50 jobs as it prepares to shift operations to Merseyside.

Interbrew, formerly Whitbreads, will be moving warehouse and distribution operations from its site in Dutton's Way, Shadsworth Industrial Park, Blackburn, to Knowsley.

Fifty workers have been told they are to be made redundant.

A hundred more workers are facing an uncertain future as meetings between management and trade unions take place.

The redundancies, believed to be in the vehicle workshop, load planning, dray and warehouse areas, will be final from October but there will be options for individuals to transfer to other depots.

Interbrew, which brews Stella Artois, contracted its £500million distribution business to a company called Tradeteam last year.

Tradeteam today confirmed that over the next few months, work from the Shadsworth distribution site will be shifted to a distribution centre in Knowsley.

Tradeteam has pledged they will work to minimise the impact of the changes on employees.

A spokesman for Tradeteam said: "Around 50 people have been told they will be made redundant but there will be options to transfer.

"The redundancies will taken place from October.

"This review and subsequent changes will ensure that Tradeteam can continue to deliver an industry-leading service to Interbrew and its other customers and that it is well positioned for future growth opportunities.

"Over the next few months volumes from several sites including former Interbrew sites across the country, will be transferred to alternative depots.

"Consultation is in process to minimise the impact of these changes at each of the sites and, where possible, transfer employees to alternative depots."

Tradeteam is part of the Excel group, a FTSE 100 company with an annual turnover, last year of £4.7 billion.

The company is developing three custom designed distribution centres, of which the Knowsley site is one.

Interbrew is the world's fifth largest brewer and owns the Stella Artois brand.

Whitbread, sold its Samlesbury brewery as part of a £400million deal with Belgium company Interbrew securing the jobs of 600 workers.