JOB losses look set to hit North and East Yorkshire after a charity announced it would be making hundreds of part-time staff redundant.

Staff at Help The Aged shops have received letters informing them of a revised scheme to lay-off 259 part-time workers from the end of April.

The charity has shops in Malton, Pickering, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington, Pocklington, Selby, Goole and two in York.

Help The Aged originally proposed to make all of its deputy managers redundant but, following consultation with employees, revised proposals have been drawn up.

Now it is thought that the job cuts will hit more than half the deputy managers employed by the charity, and also affect a number of part-time assistant managers.

One deputy manager from North Yorkshire, who is among those who is facing redundancy, said: "I'm very disappointed. I'm fed up to the back teeth with it.

"It's gone on for so long and still seems so unfair after all the work we have done for very little remuneration."

The deputy manager, who did not wish to be named, said: "I suppose there is nothing we can do now. We fought it while it was still a proposal, but now it's a final decision."

A statement issued by Help The Aged in response to questions from the Evening Press reads: "In response to a difficult High Street trading environment that has hit both the commercial and voluntary sector, Help The Aged has been forced to consider its retail costs.

"The slow-down in sales is being compounded by a £1 million reduction in annual income from textile recycling."The statement from the charity goes on: "At the beginning of February, the charity embarked on a consultation process with all of its retail staff.

"This included a wide-reaching proposal for redundancies, which was amended following feedback from staff and volunteers."As a result of the consultation, it has been decided that 259 part-time shop employees will be made redundant from April 30, 1999."

Michael Lake, director general of Help The Aged, said: "We are duty bound to run the charity in the most cost-effective manner possible. We have to reduce our retail costs to safeguard the continued level of support for older people in need."

Mr Lake added: "All our shops will remain open, providing high standards of service and quality donated goods."

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