Norwich Union's parent company, Aviva, today announced it was cutting almost 900 jobs.

But the jobs of 3,000-plus Norwich Union Life workers in York are safe, the company said today.

Two-thirds of the job losses will come through "streamlining" at Aviva's general insurance business for motor, home and travel, at Norwich, Perth and Worthing.

But the closure of its life and pensions administrative office in Cheadle, near Manchester, means the loss of a further 280 jobs.

A spokeswoman for Norwich Union Life at York said: "The cuts are part of a review of our general insurance business to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. We have no current plans to cut back on life assurance business."

Updated: 14:19 Tuesday, July 15, 2003