WORKERS at ICI's Uniqema plant on Teesside were last night reassured that their employment is safe - despite reports the company is to shed 150 extra jobs.

The ICI group has been reducing staff numbers dramatically since November 2001.

About 1,100 of a total planned cull of 1,300 staff have already left, but the company said last night the figure should have been set at 1,450.

The extra jobs are likely to go from abroad. A spokesman said: "It is highly unlikely that any of the additional job losses would be in the UK.

"It is not something that is going to have any significant impact on the North-East."

ICI employs about 500 people at its Teesside Uniqema operations.

It had a greater presence in the region before selling its Synetix operation to Johnson Matthey last year.

The announcement yesterday came as the company reported flat profits and lower sales for the past year.

The group, which has been battling against tough market conditions, said pre-tax profits for the year to December 31, stripping out one-off costs, were £400m against £401m the previous year.

Sales dipped five per cent to £6.13bn.

Chief executive Brendan O'Neill said: "Overall, our performance for the year was satisfactory, given the persistence of difficult conditions.

"With our strengthened balance sheet and continuing actions to improve our market positions and cost and capital effectiveness, ICI faces the uncertain economic outlook with increased confidence."