A CHORLEY-based company is denying rumours of closure and job losses.

Vertex Training Services says it will be moving away from its Little Carr Lane site, but that there will be no redundancies.

And its parent company -- Vertex -- has refused to comment on a rumour that the land is to be sold off for housing, saying only that United Utilities, which owns the site, is reviewing its future uses and that no definite decision has been made.

Speculation over the company's future began when disappointed locals were contacted by VTS and told that only bookings for functions before March 2001 could be honoured as the site was closing.

The Vertex Centre houses both VTS' technical and customer relationship management divisions.

A spokesman for Vertex Training Services said: "The company is not closing. It has won two large contracts recently, which means that it is now running and managing call centres on behalf of these customers.

"The technical arm are moving -- they are looking to expand and grow. They have recently created a partnership with a company which has given them a network of sites to work from. There is no need for a 20 acre site. And customer relationship management are going back to the call centres. Staff and consultants need to get closer to where their customers are."

He added: "There is no deadline as to when this is going to happen, and at this moment in time it's unlikely there will be any job losses."

He said VTS are doing all they can to help people whose functions -- including wedding receptions -- have been cancelled.

"Deposits have been returned to couples. Flowers have been delivered and the company is trying to help find alternative venues."

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said: "I am bitterly disappointed that Vertex and the owners United Utilities have not taken the trouble to contact myself or the local authority to discuss this.

"They are a Chorley employer. I will be contacting the company asking them if we can have a meeting."

United Utilities declined to comment.