MORE Bolton jobs are on the line following a decision by international courier firm Hays DX to move most of its operation out of town to a new base in Trafford Park.

The company, which formerly operated in Bolton as Document Interlink, has decided to close its distribution depot at Tonge Bridge Industrial Estate, affecting around 47 staff.

Some office staff will remain in Bolton for the time being.

But Bolton's document exchange and specialist courier services will be moved to a large new, more mechanised site in Trafford Park and some Bolton staff are expected to be relocated to other Hays sites in surrounding areas.

Management at the company says it is currently consulting with staff about the move.

"With consultation still taking place it is too early to confirm whether any redundancies will result from the relocation," said managing director Robert Morgan.

"Every effort will be made to avoid this outcome."

A worker at the Bolton site, who asked not to be named, says there had been fears for several months that the place would be closing.

"It has all been up in the air since September," she said. "So it has not come as a shock to us."

The company will complete its relocation by March 31.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.