HUNDREDS of East Lancashire mill workers could see their annual bonus fall after their parent group announced a slump in profits.

The John Lewis Partnership store group, which owns Herbert Parkinson in Darwen and J H Birtwistle in Haslingden, announced a 22 per cent fall in profits in the first half of 1999.

Figures showed that trading profits within the group had dropped by £21 million to £77 million compared to the first six months of last year.

Chairman Sir Stuart Hampson said: "Although not unexpected, it is deeply disappointing, and our urgent challenge is to begin the climb back towards profit growth in the second half."

Earlier this year employees in the partnership shared a 19 per cent bonus worth £2,850 to a worker on £300 a week.

Each year, part of the profits made across the group is shared out in the form of a bonus depending on how well the company has done

Today the Partnership has 25 department stores around the country and 118 Waitrose supermarkets.

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