WORKERS at a drug manufacturing company will be victims in the latest swathe of redundancies to hit Swindon.

Cardinal Health, based at Blagrove Industrial Estate, has yet to announce which employees will lose their jobs.

The American company has confirmed up to eight per cent of its 900-strong work force in Swindon could be affected.

One production worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said the news came as a shock.

"We are all gutted," she said. "I am a single parent and I can't afford to be out of work. We had no warning about it and we just have to wait and see who loses their jobs."

The news follows an announcement from WH Smith that 270 jobs are to go at its Swindon and London operations.

In total, about 1,380 job losses in Swindon have been announced in the past six months.

But Dennis Grant, chief executive of Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said the town's economy was still buoyant despite the redundancies.

"We are fortunate to have a very strong labour market," he said. "The number of jobs losses in Swindon is less than the national average.

"An awful lot of people will have to find new work and I do have sympathy for them.

"But I am not overly worried at the moment.

"However, we can't just rest on our laurels and however buoyant Swindon's economy is, there is a limit."

Mr Grant said the town was already being proactive in attracting new business. One bright spot is the Renault building in West Swindon, which will be transformed into a trading post for the Chinese Government.

Thousands of jobs are likely to be created when firms from the East, hoping to break into the European Markets, move there.

Cardinal Health, the latest company to shed jobs, produces fast-dissolving pharmaceutical tablets. Most of its business is for export.

The company took over R P Scherer, another US drug manufacturing company, in a deal worth £500m. More than 40 jobs were axed in 1998 after the merger.

Despite the job losses, vice-president of Cardinal Health Europe, Craig Cunningham, said the company was in good shape.

"Due to the change in business forecast for pharmaceutical fast-dissolve tablets manufactured at the site in Swindon, we have entered a period of collective consultation with the workforce regarding the restructuring of the business," he said.

"While we expect job losses, these will represent less than eight per cent of the site workforce.

"Cardinal Health remains confident about the future and the growth of their dosage form technologies. As this is an internal consultation process for employees, it is inappropriate to make any further comment."

Swindon's disappearing jobs

About 1,380 jobs have been axed in Swindon in the past six months. Here's the breakdown:

APRIL 2004 Cardinal Health announces 70 staff are facing redundancy.

APRIL 2004 270 jobs to be lost at WH Smith's Swindon and London offices.

APRIL 2004 450 jobs to be lost over the next nine months at Zurich.

MARCH 2004 150 jobs to be axed at Swindon College.

JANUARY 2004 About 330 Swindon Pressings workers are set to lose their jobs.

FEBRUARY 2004 Endeva close its call centre in Swindon with the loss of more than 60 jobs.

NOVEMBER 2003 At least 50 Endeva workers given statutory redundancy.

Bhavani Vadde