'Holiday' bid to avoid job cuts

Workers at a foundry in the Forest of Dean are to use their annual holidays in a bid to avoid redundancies and help the firm cope with reduced demand.

In a union-backed deal, 145 staff at Federal Mogul Camshaft Castings will take an extended Christmas break.

The Lydney plant is struggling due to low sales of new cars.

Wire manufacturer Leoni Temco in Cinderford put 60 staff on a three-day week in November. Eight jobs are going at the Blade Car Group in Gloucester.

And in neighbouring Wiltshire, the Honda plant is Swindon is closing for 50 days next year.