Imperial cuts 2,440 global jobs

Imperial is the world's fourth-largest tobacco company

Tobacco giant Imperial Tobacco is cutting 2,440 jobs worldwide, including 260 jobs in England and 1,060 positions in France.

The move is part of a restructuring scheme after the takeover of French-Spanish firm Altadis.

The firm, whose headquarters is in Bristol, employs 1,700 UK staff.

Its Nottingham cigarette factory will shed 210 jobs and a cigar factory in Bristol, which employs 75 people, will shut down.

Spanish transfer

The firm said despite the closure of the Bristol plant, it would create 25 jobs with a reorganisation of central support functions.

Its early days but we will be fighting for every job Unite union

Imperial Tobacco spokesman Alex Parsons said: "We are regrettably closing the cigar factory in Bristol - it's a very regrettable step for us to take, but it is an industry which is under considerable pressure."

Iain MacLean, of the Unite union, said the projected savings are "a drop in the ocean" in relation to the company's total costs and compared to "the misery and despair" they will cause.

"Its early days but we will be fighting for every job and there will be absolutely no acceptance of any compulsory redundancies."

Imperial Tobacco, the world's fourth-largest cigarette company, bought Altadis for 12.6bn euros ($19.9bn; £9.9bn) in January.

The combined firm's brands include Lambert & Butler, West and Gauloises.

A company statement said the cuts were necessary to "strengthen the enlarged group's competitive position in a challenging and highly regulated operating environment by addressing over-capacity and improving efficiencies".

The company, which has made tobacco products in Bristol since 1901, will transfer cigar production to Spain.

The overhaul, which will be implemented over the next three years, will result in the closure of six factories within its portfolio of 58 sites.

In Europe, the firm will cut 870 jobs in Spain, 250 in Germany and 100 in Russia along with the 1,060 jobs in France. Another 140 job losses are spread over four other countries.

The restructuring will result in an additional 200 jobs in Poland.

Employees, works councils and trade unions have been informed and a consultation process is under way.