MORE than 40 jobs look set to go at one of Darwen's oldest employers.

Surgical dressings manufacturer Vernon Carus told employees yesterday that it was proposing to axe the jobs at its Hoddlesden mill site.

GMB union official John Phillips today said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with the company which produces medical swabs.

"If they do want to reduce the workforce by 40 that will only leave 26 on that site, which is ominous," said Mr Phillips.

"I haven't spoken to the company yet but hopefully we will be able to arrange a meeting as soon as possible to discuss this."

Directors at the company's head office in Preston were unavailable for comment.

Vernon Carus was formed in 1971 by the merger of Hoddlesden-based Alexander Carus & Sons and Vernon & Co. In 1993, the firm closed its Hampden Mill site in Darwen.

The job losses are the latest to be announced by firms across the borough this month. Newmans Footwear in Blackburn and Sappi have announced more than 200 redundancies between them.

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