NEW redundancies at power tools firm Black and Decker's flagship North-East factory have left workers fearing for their future.

The company says that the six jobs being axed in its consumer engineering department at Spennymoor, County Durham, this week, are part of a cost-cutting programme which is designed to secure the long-term future of the plant.

Last March, 100 of the 2,000 full and part-time staff opted to leave after an appeal for volunteers from the US-based firm, and another 12 administrative posts were cut at the end of November.

Bosses have consistently moved to reassure Spennymoor staff after announcing major changes a year ago.

Black and Decker branded drills and power tools are now made in the company's Suzhou plant, in China, where they can be produced at a lower cost, while Spennymoor now focuses on high value De Walt tools used by professional tradesmen.

A spokesman said yesterday: "The future of the plant is not up for debate. The redundancies are part of a long process of realignment to the professional product, and will help secure the long-term future of the plant.

"We must continue to balance the level of skills we require and control our costs. All personnel affected will be offered full outplacement support."

But one worried worker said: "Morale at the plant is very low. We are all wondering who is going to be next.

"A lot of people are saying that this is just the beginning. Permanent staff are being laid off, while they are keeping on agency workers who are easier to get rid of.

"Staff do not think the plant has a long-term future and are resigned to the fact that it will shut eventually.

"We have gone from being a flagship factory to being told that we are a drain on the company and we don't know where it will end.