BURNLEY MP Peter Pike has stepped in after workers at a local call centre raised concerns about calls being transferred -- to a centre in India.

Mr Pike has written to the chief executive of the town's Reality Group, formerly GUS, after bosses revealed calls were being transferred in a pilot scheme. He acted after workers contacted him with concerns that the scheme would lead to job cuts in Burnley.

Mr Pike said: "Reality is a major employer in the town and I understand fully the concerns of the workers. I have sent a letter to the chief executive following a few letters from staff who have expressed their worries.

"I know that calls made to British Airways during the night are transferred to the USA which Reality look to have followed. This is a real problem if it continues in Burnley because we just cannot compete with the wages that are paid in India."

A spokesman for Reality today said they jobs would not be affected and confirmed the Indian centre was a pilot scheme.

But staff in Burnley are insisting that nearly 1,000 call centre staff's jobs are under threat and have met with the officials from the union USDAW after a meeting was called on Wednesday night to discuss fears.

USDAW officer Val Pugh said: "Workers are very concerned about this pilot scheme of out sourcing as it is bound to have an effect on their jobs. Members are especially worried as they have told me that every pilot scheme implemented by the company has been implemented in some form or another.

"A lot of our members are working mums who rely on their jobs, but are sick with worry because they have been kept in the dark as to what is actually going on.

"They are worried because there isn't sufficient work for them to keep all the staff on."