750 jobs axed

The firm said the jobs would go at its Samlesbury and Warton sites which together employ more than 10,000.

And union representatives at Samlesbury today warned they feared more job losses could be on the way.

Most of the job losses are expected to affect white collar workers in administration and support areas. Manufacturing and production is not expected to be affected.

Union leaders were being briefed as employees arrived for work today.

As part of the announcement today, the firm also said that its ROVIS facility at Royal Ordnance in Blackburn was to be relocated to a new site within the district -- a move predicted by the Evening Telegraph several weeks ago.

The 3,800 job losses being announced thoughout BAE's 70,000 strong workforce result from the company's merger with Marconi last year.

At the time the company warned cost savings would mean it cutting jobs. Hundreds of senior managers have already gone over the past year.

The company is expected to seek volunteers for the latest job cuts and will stress it will continue recruiting 2,000 engineers every year.

Union officials will urge the company to achieve all the job losses through voluntary methods..

"The merger meant that restructuring was going to be inevitable," said John Wall of the Manufacturing Science and Finance Union.

"However we hope that the level of reduction will not be so great that it will damage the effectiveness of the company and the co-operation of unions.

"We will resist compulsory redundancies and will engage in detailed negotiations with the company."

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw -- told of the news by BAE boss John Weston -- said: "I am obviously sad for those people who will be facing redundancy, even though it is voluntary.

"However, in my long experience of working with the company, British Aerospace have a good record in handlingthese issues."

"I am relieved that Royal Ordnance will be being relocated in the Blackburn area and that high levels of investment will continue."