THE closure of two British Gas centres in East Lancashire has been branded as a betrayal by union leaders.

Centrica has announced it is closing all 240 British Gas shops - including ones in Blackburn and Burnley - with the loss of 1,450 jobs.

The Energy Centres have been losing money since Centrica bought them in the demerger of British Gas two years ago.

Unions attacked the decision as a "shocking betrayal" of staff who agreed to take a pay cut earlier this year to try to keep the network of shops open.

The union is now calling for urgent meetings with the company to try to get them to change their minds.

"This is a double betrayal of staff who this year took a pay cut to protect jobs and keep shops open," said Maxine Nixon of the GMB.

"Energy Centres have introduced many changes in the last year and in February concluded a partnership deal with the trade unions. We don't believe that the company has given enough time to give all these changes a fair chance of success.

"Centrica has recently found £1.1 billion to buy the AA but are now turning their backs on their loyal staff who have worked hard to make the shops more successful."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.