Job loss fear in ITV announcement

ITV recently announced it was shelving production of Heartbeat

A union has criticised management at ITV ahead of an expected announcement of cost-cutting plans including fears of job losses at its Yorkshire site.

The broadcaster is due to release its annual financial results on Wednesday, with unconfirmed reports of up to 500 job cuts and production cutbacks.

Broadcasting workers' union Bectu said it feared most of the losses would come from the Kirkstall Road site in Leeds.

ITV recently announced it was shelving dramas Heartbeat and The Royal.

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of Bectu, said staff there were "the most demoralised workers in British television" and were "disappointed at the way the company has been run down".

He added: "ITV is in a desperate state and the management is not managing the situation. Having Michael Grade holding the positions of chairman and chief executive doesn't help.

"The company is rudderless and has been for a while. We would welcome some significant restructuring of the management."

An ITV spokesman said the company could not make any comment ahead of Wednesday's announcement.