BRITAX, one of the UK's biggest child car seat manufacturers, is set to make 35 workers at its Andover factory redundant.

The news is the second blow to Andover workers in as many weeks following the news that Office Depot is to close its distribution centre in the town.

Britax has confirmed that the job losses are part of an effort to increase manufacturing efficiency and harmonise work between other factories in Europe.

Ian Watson the company's European Managing Dire-ctor, said: "We are currently in a period of consultation with staff over a proposal to reduce head count at Andover by 35 employees.

"This decision has not been taken lightly, and must be viewed in the context of our need to achieve major improvements in manufacturing efficiency, to increase our competitiveness, and to safeguard the majority of jobs here at our Andover plant.

"During 2008, there will be increased emphasis from Britax in developing our wheeled goods range which is manufactured overseas, while recent harmonisation in our Pan-European product range means that production can in future be simplified across our Andover and German plants."

Mr Watson added that the company would be undertaking serious exploration of these proposals with our staff representatives' over the next month.