NEWLY merged mobile phone groups Orange and T-Mobile have announced plans to axe around 1,200 jobs in the UK.

The group, which employs thousands of workers in the North-East, is planning to axe jobs following a review of the enlarged business.

Everything Everywhere - the holding group behind the new mobile phone company - said it was cutting 7.5 per cent of its 16,000 strong workforce to end duplicated roles following the tie-up between Orange and T-Mobile in the UK earlier this year.

The group pledged no cuts would be made among frontline or retail store staff. Its main offices are in London, Bristol and Hatfield, Herts.

Orange is one of the North-East's largest employers. Its call centres in Darlington and North Tyneside employ nearly 6,000 people.