WASHING machine manufacture at Dyson's Malmesbury plant will finally end in February with the loss of 51 jobs as the firm switches production to Malaysia.

The firm has spent two months in consultation with affected workers. The job loss figure is lower than the 65 announced in September when the company decided it needed to make cuts as part of a cost saving measure.

A spokesman for Dyson said while no viable alternative could be found to save all the jobs, the consultation between the management and workforce had found ways to keep some jobs.

The 14 workers saved from the chop will be redeployed in other part of the factory.

A spokesman said: "Dyson would like to commend and thank all employees who are affected for their professionalism during this difficult time.

"During consultation, the committee offered ideas as to how to reduce the number of people being made redundant. This means that the number of people affected has dropped to 51."

Workers said Dyson threatened their redundancy package would be reduced if they spoke to the press.

The company denied the claim.

Some workers who spoke off the record said morale was at an all-time low on the factory floor when the redundancies were announced. No workers were available for comment yesterday.

The compensation package offered to the sacked employees was four times above the statutory average, according to Dyson. It said support would also be provided to employees in the form of funding job-searching courses, training in interview skills and CV preparation. A resource centre has been set up with internet access.

In addition Dyson is inviting pension advisors and recruitment agencies to give individual and group consultations to the workers affected, as well as offering listening groups and individual counselling.

This year marked the firm's tenth year in Wiltshire. Its workforce has been reduced from around 2,000 in 2001 to 1,200 this year, although 80 new research and development jobs have been created.

Last year the company cut 590 jobs from its custom built factory at Tetbury Hill when it moved vacuum cleaner manufacture to Malaysia.