AROUND 150 jobs could be axed at a catalogue distribution warehouse on the Greenbridge industrial estate, trade unions are warning.

Union chiefs fear the jobs at the Reality warehouse in Kelvin Road will be cut if the Government blocks a multi-million pound merger deal involving the firm's parent company.

Reality is the distribution arm of Shop Direct, the catalogue chain formerly called GUS, which owns brands such as Great Universal, Kay's, Choice and Marshall Ward.

Shop Direct was bought by March UK which owns Littlewoods in May for £590 million. But the merger has been referred to the Competition Commission on the grounds that the combined company would have too large a share of the home shopping market.

March could be forced to sell Shop Direct, and workers in Swindon are worried about the future

One 24-year-old delivery driver, who asked not to be named, said: "It's really uncertain, no-one is telling us what is going on."

Another driver, a 33-year-old man, said: "I just hope that those people making the decision about the merger will think of our jobs."

Usdaw, the Union of Shop, Distribution and Allied Workers, fears Shop Direct will only survive if the merger is allowed.

A final decision is expected by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt early next year.