Littlewoods is the parent of a vast home shopping empire

The Liverpool-based group is undertaking a comprehensive restructuring following its acquisition of Shop Direct, formerly owned by GUS.

It wants to close Shop Direct's call centres in Widnes and Leeds, with the loss of up to 600 jobs.

However, Littlewoods said posts will be created at other call centres.

It also plans to shut Shop Direct's hanging garment warehouse in Bolton, resulting in the loss of 45 jobs, according to shop workers union Usdaw.

Littlewoods's own call centre in Preston will close, with staff transferred to the Shop Direct site in the town.

The company's returns centre in Bolton will close its doors and staff will be offered similar work in Oldham.

Union Usdaw said: "These proposals will cause a great deal of anxiety for our members at these sites. I want to reassure them that Usdaw is committed to protecting their interests and will do all we can to minimise job losses".

David Simons, Chairman of Littlewoods and Shop Direct, said: "While the proposals we are discussing today will result in some job losses, they will allow us to safeguard many more jobs within the combined workforces of Littlewoods and Shop Direct for the future."