SPORTS car maker Lotus yesterday said it will be cutting up to 275 UK jobs as a result of the economic slowdown.

About 15 per cent of the group's workforce in Hethel, Norfolk, will be affected by the restructuring, which will take place over the "next few months".

Lotus said current market conditions and demand for its sports cars had forced it to realign its manufacturing capacity.

The group manufactures and sells the Elise and the Esprit and also makes the Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX200 for General Motors.