A UNION boss today admitted he was expecting redundancies before play staff at Burnley Council were warned jobs are at at risk because of a cash-cutting review.

Council leader Stuart Caddy, has told campaigners that it is intended to maintain the level of the authority's play activities, but to save money by employing more part-time and fewer full-time staff.

The council currently employs nine full-time and four part-time staff and a small number of other staff on a casual basis.

The council had to find savings of £850,000 from a £13.5 million budget after a fall in population resulted in a cut in the money it receives from the Government.

Peter Thorne, branch secretary of local government union UNISON, said he had not been aware of the briefing and would be making inquiries.

But the situation was not unexpected. He said: "We are expecting redundancies and knew that play areas would be targeted.

"The threat of job losses must be a cause of concern. All I can say at the moment is that we will be talking to the people who may be affected."

The staff involved were briefed about the situation at lunchtime yesterday by Mike Waite, head of community and recreation services.

He said councillors and managers considering the proposals were very mindful of the effect on the staff currently delivering play work.

They and the trade union were being fully briefed on the proposals, which would be developed in more detail in consultation with them.

Any full-time staff affected would be offered the chance to apply for any appropriate vacancies in the council. He knew they had a very strong commitment to play activities and their work with the children.

He stressed that the council was committed to play activities in the town and was trying to come up with a structure that would allow the authority to make savings. They were moving from a situation of full-time to part-time employees.

He appreciated it was not easy for staff to hear the news that full-time jobs may be going.

Final decisions on the budget and staffing structure for the community and recreation services unit would be made in the New Year as part of the budget-setting process.

Decisions about the programme and activities to be carried out by the playteam and other groups of staff would be made on the basis of those decisions and on the basis of the current review of the work of the service unit.