HUNDREDS of jobs are to go after shopping giant Littlewoods announced the closure of two Bolton distribution centres.

The company is to shut its Holden Distribution Centre on Blackburn Road in September and the Dove Distribution Centre, on Deane Church Lane, by April 2000.

The move means 378 jobs at the Bolton sites are to go as the bulk of the distribution operations move to a new state-of-the-art £45 million complex in Shaw, near Oldham. It is a second body-blow to workers in the town this week, following Monday's announcement that 220 textile jobs are to go. Today a Littlewoods spokesman said the closures formed part of the company's "ambitious plans" to modernise its business. Mike Wynne, Littlewoods Group operations director, said: "This move is essential for the future of our business and in building on our strategy to get closer to our customers.

"As one of the biggest employers in the North-west, we are confident of finding new jobs for most of our colleagues affected by this decision."

Bosses claim the 260 permanent employees affected by the closures will be able to relocate to the company's locally based operations, including the Croal returns centre in Deane, Bolton, and the Shaw centre.

But a Littlewoods spokesman said that a further 118 employees, working on temporary or fixed term contracts, will be made redundant.

Discussions have now begun between union chiefs and managers, following announcement of the two closures.

The spokesman added: "When these people took up their positions it was made clear that the jobs were only temporary and would only be open for so many months. "In any review of this kind it's only normal working practice to go into a period of consultation with union representatives."

But shocked workers claim the news - broken to them by bosses yesterday in a series of meetings - has come as a "bolt from the blue".

Janice Lowe, 40, an order issuer at the Holden Mill, said the news came as a double blow for her family.

She has worked at the mill for 13 years, and her husband, a bulk stock handler has been with the company for nearly 18 years.

In November the couple took out a £42,000 mortgage on a house in Cleveleys Avenue, Tonge Fold - on the strength "that they were in secure jobs".

"But now it's like a noose around our necks," she stormed.

"The company must have known about this for some time and they could have prepared us for it.

"There was absolutely no inkling that this was going to happen. I just don't know what the future holds for us."

When told that the company were to offer alternative employment, including work at Shaw, she said: "I can't drive, and my husband can't drive. How on earth would we get to Shaw?"

She added: "The future looks bleak. I feel very let down by Littlewoods."

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