MOTOROLA is clearly going through the wars.

It isn't alone, of course. Several high-tech companies in Swindon have suffered badly from the world economic slowdown.

The American-based company yesterday announced more than 9,000 job losses worldwide.

But with predictable vagueness Motorola said it could not break that figure down into job losses per country, let alone per town.

In Swindon the news must have been met with dismay by the company's 2,000 employees.

Unfortunately we cannot report reaction from staff members because they have been told not to speak to the press.

But as far as we understand they remain as much in the dark as we do about their futures, leading to a bleak Christmas for all involved.

Motorola has proved to be a good friend to Swindon. It has provided much of the spark that has re-ignited the town's economy.

Now it owes it to the town to be as open as possible about what comes next.