Talks are being held at GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) plant in Ulverston, Cumbria, on Friday, to discuss proposed job cuts at the factory.

The company says the 400 redundancies are necessary to defend the site's business against competition, and secure its future.

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

On Friday managers at the plant will meet councillors, unions, support workers and development agencies, to discuss how to cushion the blow for those being laid off.

'Cataclysmic news'

A GSK spokesman told BBC News Online: "This is a meeting we have called to discuss the situation with members of the local community.

"They are all people likely to have an interest in the jobs proposal should it go ahead.

"We have been showing them around the plant and explaining how our business has arrived at its current position."

There are representatives of Cumbria County Council, South Lakelands Council, Barrow Council, the Employment Service, and various investment agencies.

There is also union representation at the meeting. The Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) has called the announcement "cataclysmic news for Cumbria".

The drug-maker has blamed cheap foreign imports for the decision - and says the jobs must go to protect the remaining workforce.

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.