STAFF at one of Darwen's biggest employers have been warned the company plans to shed 125 jobs nationwide.

Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings plans to lose jobs at Hull, Warrington, St Ives and Darwen.

It is unclear how many staff in East Lancashire will be affected by "restructuring proposals".

One worker, who did not wish to be named, said today: "Everybody was just hoping they would offer us all redundancy. The place is going to end up going like Belgrave (Mill). We're not happy at all."

Another added: "There's nothing being said. It's just rumours we're hearing. Nobody knows what's happening, we're all just having to wait and see."

Belgrave Mill was home to Crown Wallcoverings, also in Darwen, until 2004 when more than 100 people lost their jobs.

However, union bosses have been assured the factory has a future in the area.

Bob Wellum, GMB works convener at Darwen, who represents 240 workers, revealed shift patterns were being changed from a three-shift pattern to a two-shift pattern, effectively ending the night shift.

He said: "We have guarantees from the European Works Council when we met with the business manager, that there would be no site closures in 2006.

"We've had our first meeting with management and reported back to the workforce. But the feeling amongst staff is we don't know what direction the company is heading in."

A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union, which have a "handful" of members in Darwen, added: "We are very disappointed to be notified of potential redund-ancies and will be looking to meet with site management as soon as possible."

In 2002 Akzo Nobel conducted a multi-million pound take over Plascon UK and Eire, a leading speciality paint business .

It also made what it called a "significant capital investment" in its emulsion paint plant in 1997, resulting in the production process becoming more automated.

A spokesman for Akzo Nobel said: "The company is consulting with trade unions and employee representatives about proposals which could involve a reduction of 125 employees across the country. However, the opportunity for job transfers and voluntary redundancy will be offered wherever possible."