Civil servants have already gone on strike over planned cuts

It fears the posts will form part of a wider programme of job cuts at Customs and Revenue offices across Britain.

Earlier this year it was revealed that 50 jobs at the Department for Work and Pensions would be moving to Bangor.

A government spokesperson said it was too early to say how the Porthmadog office would be affected.

The PCS union said the Gwynedd office is one of 16 in Wales that could be struck by job losses.

Many local politicians are warning that in this corner of the county, any redundancies would hit the local economy hard.

'Body blow'

Caernarfon MP Hywel Williams said any further job losses would be devastating.

"For a small economy, such as the one around Porthmadog, this is a tremendous body blow, possibly a million pounds just in wages alone going out of the local economy.

"Porthmadog and the area can't afford this at all," he added.

Mr Williams says he will be seeking a meeting with treasury officials and the chancellor immediately, to clarify the future of the office.

A public meeting is being held to start a campaign to prevent the Inland Revenue office from closing.