JOBS are set to be axed at Brintons in a bid by bosses to make the Kidderminster factory more efficient.

Up to 20 jobs will be shed at the Kidderminster factory following changes to the shift patterns.

The night shift will be scrapped and replaced with a double day shift to make the manufacturing more efficient.

A spokeswoman for Brintons said it was hoped people would be given the option of voluntary redundancy.

She added: “We don’t like to do this. We always try to avoid redundancies wherever possible and these people will be given full support. The consultation process has started today.”

She added: “We need to make Kidderminster efficient. We’re removing the night shift and we’re putting on a double day shift and will be making a few changes in the warehouse.”

She said despite the shift change, the same amount of carpet would be produced at the factory.

“It’s not all doom and gloom,” she added. “There’s a lot of investment going into Kidderminster. We’re putting investment into all the factories.”

She added there were vacancies at the Telford site which people could apply for.

Brintons is the largest manufacturer of Axminster carpets in the world and has carried out many prestigious projects, including carpeting the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, the Queen Mary 2, many Las Vegas casinos and recently the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

The company currently has plant facilities in the UK, India, Portugal and China and its product portfolio includes premium woven Axminster and Wilton broadloom carpets, Axminster carpet tiles and handtufted rugs.