Avon Products to cut 2,400 jobs

Avon has five million agents in more than 100 countries

Avon Products, which is famous for using millions of representatives to sell its cosmetics, is to cut 2,400 jobs as part of a restructuring plan.

It has announced that the programme, which was originally announced in November 2005, will cost $30m (£15m) more than had been expected.

It also raised the amount it expects to save once the plan has been implemented from $300m to $430m a year.

Avon is the world's largest direct seller of cosmetics.

It operates in more than 100 countries through five million representatives.

It plans to outsource its call centres and move its manufacturing to countries where wages are lower.