CHEMICAL giant ICI is to axe a further 175 jobs in the North West.

The redundancies will effect administration white collar workers employed by the corporate support service.

The exact number of people in Runcorn to lose their jobs is not yet known but will include staff based at The Heath.

The redundancies will include functions such as engineering, information technology, computer services and finance.

The company this week stressed the losses will have "no effect whatsoever" on Runcorn's manufacturing business.

The cuts are the latest in a string of cost-saving measures as ICI restructures its business to reduce massive debts. This week's half-year results still show a red balance sheet of £3.2 billion.

As part of the restructuring, staff numbers at the company's London HQ will be reduced by almost one-third from 300 to just 120.

A spokesman for ICI said: "The regional businesses, including ICI's chlorine manufacturing business ICI Chlor-Chemicals, will not be affected by this announcement and plans continue to develop these businesses long term."

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