TWENTY-FIVE jobs are to go at one of Kidderminster's oldest printing firms, which has been forced to restructure after losing a major order.

Works director Alan Watts said the redundancies were across the board covering manufacturing and office staff.

The final number is less than feared by workers at GT Cheshire and Sons Ltd, and proposed industrial action has been suspended.

A few long-serving staff left on Friday and the rest of the redundant workers will leave the Coventry Street firm on April 25.

Mr Watts said: "It has been a humane process and we have got through it. The consultation has finished, the unions are happy and we are in a position to move forward now.

"It was not a process I would like to go through again."

Cheshire's, which was launched in 1836 and has been based near the town centre for more than 60 years, ran into trouble when it lost a major order from GUS.

GPMU branch secretary Tom Lowe claimed the company was originally considering axing well over 35 jobs. But he said discussions had taken place and his members - who make up the manufacturing workforce - had accepted the proposals which are now being implemented.

"Proposed industrial action has been put on hold, but if anything else happens the disputes and differences procedure will be activated," added Mr Lowe.

Mr Watts - part of the management buy-out team which has run the firm for 18 months - said maintaining the company's customer base was a high priority.

"We have to keep our customers happy- we produce good quality work at commercial prices," he added.

The direct mail printing firm and its office supplies base in Hartlebury was bought from parent company Great Universal Stores in June 2001.