Multi-national pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to make 400 workers redundant at its Ulverston plant in Cumbria.

The company says the move is necessary to defend the site's business against competition and secure its future.

The job losses will be phased in over the next two years, and will see the site's workforce reduced from more than 1,000 to 650.

The Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) has called the announcement "cataclysmic news for Cumbria".

Patents expired

After a review, senior GSK management has decided a compound called 7ACA, which is used in manufacturing antibiotics, should be bought in rather than made on site.

The company said it had reached the decision in response to increased generic competition, mainly as a result of patents expiring.

Workers were told of the developments at a meeting on site, late on Thursday afternoon.

There will now be discussions with workers, with the company looking to draw up a selection process for redundancy.

There will be 650 workers left at Ulverston site

Site manager Dr Kevin Hughes, said: "We believe that Ulverston can remain one of the largest sites in the GSK primary manufacturing network, with the majority of our existing staff continuing in employment."

GSK also said it regretted the impact of the job losses on the local community.

But Jim Mowatt, T&G national secretary, said: "This is cataclysmic news for Cumbria and for the men and women who will lose their jobs.

"With the Ulverston senior stewards we will be meeting the director of the company as a matter of urgency.

"We shall be raising the issue of the manufacturing exodus at the Labour Party conference."