UP to 120 jobs are to go at npower in Worcester after a shake-up in its customer services department.

The jobs are expected to be lost at the Blackpole site's customer service centre after its parent company, Innogy, announced yesterday it was to move the city-based department.

The company is to merge its seven customer services departments and will now operate from three sites, based at Peterlee, near Newcastle, Stoke-on-Trent and Oldbury, near Birmingham.

Allen Thompson, spokesman for Innogy, said the company regretted the job losses but stressed customer services was the only department in Worcester losing staff.

He said the Worcester office was the recognised "headquarters" of npower and would benefit from future changes within the group.

"There won't be any more redundancies at Worcester," said Mr Thompson.

"This is part of a reorganisation of the customer services, but npower is growing and improving and the Worcester office will benefit.

"We don't like making job losses and we are therefore working with staff to help them find new employment, offering them support and encouraging other employers to visit.

"Some staff could relocate, but we expect a large proportion to opt for redundancy, so we have a responsibility to help them find new employment."

Worcester MP Mike Foster was contacted by the firm yesterday with news of the job losses.

He revealed all staff had been offered transfers to the alternative sites in Peterlee, Stoke or Oldbury.

"Clearly it's disappointing to see any job losses within the city," said Mr Foster.

"But I've had reassurances there will be the option for staff to transfer to new locations and that they'll be offered a relocation package.

"For those who don't wish to take this option there will be redundancy and support measures, on which there will be consultation with the unions."