A QUESTION mark continues to hang over the jobs of more than 1,000 Worcester workers after the deal to buy the former Great Universal Stores (GUS) was referred to the Competition Commission.

The home shopping division of GUS, which incorporates the former Kays of Worcester, was bought for £590m at the end of May by the millionaire Barclay brothers, who own Littlewoods.

The company, which has been renamed Shop Direct, has a call centre in Newtown Road, Worcester, and a distribution centre in Bransford Road, Worcester.

The deal has been referred to the Competition Commission because there was a "significant prospect of a substantial lessening of competition in mail order and business-to-consumer parcel delivery", according to the Office of Fair Trading.

The deal included the White Arrow delivery business, as well as a series of catalogues.

A spokeswoman for March UK Ltd, the Barclay brothers' company, said it was too premature to say what would happen.

"It's a shame it's been referred to the Competition Commission because we wanted this to go through quickly, but it was always likely that it might happen," she said.

"It doesn't change anything in the short term and it's very likely it could still be passed. We will look at the situation and decide on a course of action once we have the decision."

If the Competition Commission rules against the deal, the Barclay brothers will be forced to sell all, or part, of the GUS unit or close it down, as they took the unusual step of buying the business outright. The commission's decision is due by December 23.