UNION leaders today reacted with shock after hearing that up to 150 Royal Mail jobs in North Yorkshire could be under threat.

According to unions, Consignia, the parent company of Royal Mail, has announced it intends to cut its workforce by up to 15 per cent. The company has denied the cuts will be that extensive, but confirmed they will save more than £1 billion.

About 1,500 people are employed by Royal Mail in the York postcode area.

But a spokesman for the firm stressed that "no decisions have been made" on job losses.

He said: "Saving costs will have an impact on people, and this could mean losing something like one in ten people in some areas over the next 18 months."

It is not yet clear which areas of Consignia's work will be hardest hit.

Updated: 15:07 Wednesday, October 03, 2001