FIFTY jobs are to be axed at a Bolton textile mill.

Today bosses at Swan Mill in Higher Swan Lane blamed the redundancies on vigorous competition from abroad.

Management at the Oldham head office of parent company Shiloh plc said the job losses were "very regrettable."

The textile spinning operation at the mill was taken over by Shiloh when they bought it from Courtalds Textiles in 1996.

Company chairman Edmund Gartside said: "These redundancies are very regrettable. Unfortunately our trade has been suffering heavily because of the strong pound.

"Competitors from abroad are able to sell much cheaper than we can. So we have to make changes to protect the future of the business."

A 30 day consultation period is underway on the compulsory redundancies and GMB union officials are involved in the talks.

Night shifts at the mill will be drastically reduced.

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