AEROSPACE giant BAE Systems today announced 132 job losses at its high tech plant at Samlesbury.

The company said it had already begun talks with the trade unions over the redundancies at its Air Systems and Aerostructures business units.

BAE Systems, which employs around 4,000 people at Samlesbury, said a review of the site's operations showed it was overmanned.

Union convenor Neil Sheeham said the Transport and General Workers Union would be opposing any compulsory redundancies, but ruled out the prospect of any immediate industrial action..

"We are talking to the management about ways of mitigating any job losses," he said. "There are exceptional levels of overtime being worked in some areas and work that is currently sub-contracted could be brought back inside.

"I would hope we can reach the position where we do not even have to look at voluntary redundancies.

"This announcement has not really come as surprise because we have been involved in the review. The company is sitting down and talking to us which is a good starting point."

Of the potential 132 job losses, 82 are in the Air Systems unit, which manufactures the Eurofighter Typhoon and other military plans, and 50 at the Aerostructures business, which makes components for the Airbus commercial jet.

Steve Worlock, director of Samlesbury Advanced Manufacturing, said: "It is always regrettable when job losses become necessary and we will work closely with employee representatives to mitigate the impact of these losses.

"Samlesbury possesses world class engineering and manufacturing capabilities and is key to BAE Systems' involvement in both the Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter programmes."