There are BT call centres in the North East and Cumbria

Plans by BT to open two call centres in India have sparked fears by unions about jobs in the north of England, despite a pledge none will be lost in the UK.

BT has confirmed plans to create 2,000 jobs at centres in Delhi and Bangalore.

The company, which has call centres in Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Cumbria, said none of its permanent employees in the UK will be made redundant.

But the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is to stage demonstrations in the region at what it calls the "exporting" of badly-needed jobs.

Unions had feared that up to 120 jobs could be lost at centres in Barrow and Carlisle, which both handle 192 calls.

In Middlesbrough there is a directory inquiries and billing centre, and in Sunderland a residential sales and billing centre.

'Stop the rot'

But BT bosses say there will be no redundancies at these centres and that any job losses will be managed through natural wastage.

However, unions are worried that other call companies will now be tempted to move abroad where they can make savings of up to 40 per cent.

A spokesman for the CWU said Friday's announcement would bring uncertainty to the future of the UK communications industry, especially in the north of England.

A spokesman told BBC News Online: "Our particular concern as far as call centres are concerned is that places like the North East and Cumbria will be harder hit than the south of England.

"These are places where employment levels are lower, and where the call centre industry is seen as driving the recovery of the local economy.

"We worry that this BT move could be the thin end of the wedge and that the North could get clobbered."