REDDITCH Community Transport staff have been dealt a blow after job losses were announced.

RCT is to shed 15 jobs after its executive committee was forced to take action to stem financial loss caused by taking on county council contracts earlier this year.

The contracts have been cancelled, paid drivers and some administrative staff have been given notice and six of the organisation's 10 minibuses will be disposed of.

The Redditch Advertiser reported last week how staff feared for their livelihoods after vandals smashed the windows of more than half the organisation's fleet of buses.

But Charles Stevens, of Redditch Council for Voluntary Service, RCT's parent charity, assured users of the service's voluntary sector side would continue as before.

He said: "The executive very reluctantly decided it couldn't allow the paid drivers to continue and they have been given notice, along with some members of the administrative staff.

"It's always very sad when people have to lose their jobs but it was necessary to safeguard the important work RCT does elsewhere."

Mr Stevens said the executive considered RCT voluntary sector services offered to community and voluntary groups to be "of paramount importance" and took firm action to ensure they continued to operate.

RCT will use the four minibuses it has had for some time, including two funded by the Community Fund, formerly the National Lotteries Charity Board.