THE AXE has fallen on another 135 jobs in Darwen as ICI Acrylics announced further restructuring plans.

The job losses, announced to the workforce in a letter late yesterday, follow a detailed marketing study of ICI Acrylics' European business.

Worried Darwen MP, Janet Anderson, has called for assurances that the company is not about to leave town.

The cuts are in addition to 30 job losses announced earlier this month following ICI's decision to close its Hammersmith headquarters in London.

A statement issued by the ICI said: "The company has under taken a detailed study of both the competitive market place and the ICI manufacturing activity over the last few months.

"This study has identified the necessity for significant improvements to our cost structure.

"ICI is therefore announcing a package of measures which will result in a reduction of 95 jobs at its Darwen operation by the end of 1996.

"A further reduction of 40 jobs will take place during 1997."

The cuts affect process operators and shift managers at the Darwen-based company which currently employs 420 people.

Meanwhile, Mrs Anderson has condemned the job losses and is seeking assurances from the company it will continue its presence as a major employer in the town.

She said: "I feel very strongly about these job losses. I blame the inefficient management for the way this situation has been handled.

"They are deliberately downsizing the company to make their share prices rise. "We need to get a commitment from the company that they are going to stay in Darwen."

ICI's manufacturing site manager Jeff Seed said: "I am personally sad to see any job losses at Darwen particularly on this scale.

"But our goal is to secure the long term future of our acrylics sheet business in Darwen.

"This restructuring, although painful, will make a significant contribution towards achieving that goal."

He said a professional redeployment agency will be set up in Darwen to try and find work for those affected by the cuts.

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