Jobs cut at electronics factory

The factory makes television tubes and monitors

Ninety jobs are to go at the LG Philips television component factory at Belmont in County Durham.

The Korean-Dutch joint-venture company claims the cuts have been made because of tough competition in the cathode ray tube market.

The tubes are a main product used in television and computer monitors, and the job cuts mean the company will now employ 860 people.

The Amicus union had raised concerns that the company wanted to close the plant along with a sister plant in Washington, Wearside, and shift production to Eastern Europe.

The union had called for assurances that the plants were not closing, and for jobs to be preserved in the UK.

LG Philips said on Wednesday that the limited redundancies demonstrated its commitment to the Durham plant.