ROSSENDALE was today dealt a massive jobs blow with the news that travel giant Airtours is to move out of its Helmshore headquarters.

The holiday giant -- the biggest employer in the borough -- has unveiled plans to move to a new head office for its Airtours Holidays, Going Places and Travelworld businesses in Rochdale.

The move will see around 1,000 jobs move from its holiday booking centre at Helmshore. It will not affect the firm's telephone booking centre based at the Globe centre in Accrington. The news comes just months after another major private employer -- GE Capital IT Solutions, formerly P&P Micro -- announced plans to move 300 jobs out of the area.

Today Richard Carrick, managing director of the holidays business which was founded in East Lancashire by Burnley entrepreneur David Crossland -- explained the decision.

"We have been very happy in Helmshore. In fact our business was founded very near to there and we have a loyal and committed team of people who have grown up with the business," said Mr Carrick. "Likewise we have a motivated and committed team at Travelworld in Huddersfield. We are hopeful that everyone in both teams will be able to make the short move to Rochdale.

"Bringing together the head offices of the three companies will enable us to make better use of resources."

The firm said it had considered other options including extending existing offices and moving to new accommodation locally but eventually decided on the Sandbrook Park development alongside the M62.

Tourism ministerJanet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, said: " I would be very disappointed if Airtours were to choose to abandon Rossendale. They have always assured me of their loyalty to Rossendale."