Thousands of jobs predicted to go

Up to 20,000 jobs could go in Bristol by 2012 - with just under a third in manufacturing - if the economic slowdown continues, a study has warned.

The report by the independent research group Centre for Cities said larger firms like Airbus appeared to be safe.

But it warned smaller businesses could run into trouble.

Dermot Finch, director at Centre for Cities, said: "Bristol should support its smaller and more vulnerable 'supply chain' manufacturers."

The report is published on the same day the Bank of Ireland-owned Bristol & West announced a rationalisation process which will see its Reading and Solihull operations close.

Mike Warburton, Bristol-based senior tax partner with Grant Thornton, said: "In many ways that could be good news for Bristol but bad news for Reading and Solihull.

"The announcement also said Bristol & West are going to market new mortgages under the Bank of Ireland.

"In many ways that makes a lot of sense, because it's duplication at a time when the financial services market is going through a difficult period with record low interest rates - it's a very unusual set of circumstances."