EAST Lancashire’s aerospace industry received a double jobs blow after two major firms confirmed cuts.

Rolls-Royce, which has two sites in Barnoldswick, is set to axe around 81 staff in addition to the 40 redundancies announced in December.

And Burnley-based Aircelle will reduce its number of on-site contractors by 130 before the end of 2015.

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Aircelle’s decision, which bosses said was linked to a drop in demand from Rolls-Royce’s, came just days after the government announced it was to create a £4.6 million UK nacelle structure centre of excellence at the Bancroft Road site.

An Aircelle spokesman said: “ In order to minimise the impact of this short-term reduction in manufacturing, we are assessing our cost base and consequently we expect to reduce our number of on-site contractors by up to 130 by the end of 2015.

“To help reduce the impact of this reduction, we will review all external recruitment and encourage internal recruitment for new vacancies.

“We continue to review the impact of the reduction in load and we are looking at additional overhead cost reductions.

“However, we are not currently planning a redundancy programme.”

The centre of excellence will create 26 new jobs and secure a further 449.

Rolls-Royce, which shed 146 staff in 2014, said it would seek it identify voluntary redundancies, where possible, at its Bankfield and Ghyll Brow manufacturing sites.

A company spokesperson said: “In November last year we announced a restructuring of our aerospace division as part of an intensified programme to improve operational efficiency and reduce cost across the group.

“As part of that process we continually review current workload and assess future customer demand to remain competitive.

“We have identified a requirement to reduce the headcount at our Barnoldswick manufacturing facilities by approximately 120 by the end of 2015.

“This includes a reduction of 40 that was announced at the end of 2014.

“It is never an easy decision to propose reductions in our workforce and we will look to meet this requirement by voluntary means wherever possible.

“We will also explore all mitigation options including redeployment to other sites and are offering full support to employees who are impacted by the changes.”

Last November, Rolls-Royce, which employs more than 900 people in Pendle, said it was axing 2,600 jobs nationwide in a bid to save £80 million per year.

Pendle’s Conservative candidate, Andrew Stephenson, said: “It is deeply disappointing news.

“My last question in the House of Commons before Parliament broke up was to ask Vince Cable what support the department for business, innovation and skills could give to the aerospace industry in Pendle over the next five years.

“I was then told this news the day after and I think what Rolls-Royce is doing is short-sighted.

“Their order books are fluctuating but it is quite clear that the aerospace industry is going to expand in the foreseeable future.

“The government needs to investigate.

“Rolls-Royce is expanding in other countries and we can’t have UK workers left behind.”

Mr Stephenson’s General Election opponents, Labour’s Azhar Ali and Graham Roach, of the Liberal Democrats, could not be reached for comment on Good Friday.