More than 1,200 people have lost their jobs in Kettering, Wellingborough, East Northamptonshire and Corby since October 2007, according to figures released yesterday.

The rise to 4,588 people represents an increase of 34 per cent in a year, compared with the average for the county of 28 per cent and 22 per cent for the East Midlands.

It comes as Wellingborough company Tingdene Homes confirmed to the Evening Telegraph it would be entering a further consultation period regarding potential further redundancies.

During the year jobs have been lost at a number of firms, with cosmetics firm Avon, printer Quebecor and coupon processor Valassis in Corby laying off nearly 1,000 workers in total in January.
In July Sainsbury's distribution centre decided to close for eight months, resulting in 70 job losses.

More recently, boat manufacturer Fairline announced pay cuts and fewer working hours for several hundred workers at its plants in Corby and Oundle.

Mobile homes manufacturer Tingdene Homes has decided to lay off "a percentage" of production employees for a maximum of four weeks, in addition to 70 employees it laid off in September.

One worker who has been made redundant, and has asked to remain anonymous, said 60 jobs were under threat this week.

Financial adviser Barry Smart, of Irchester, said: "North Northamptonshire is built on packing and manufacturing industries. When things start getting a bit difficult that end tends to go first. Small businesses in the area are very, very vulnerable."

Wellingborough and Rushden MP Peter Bone also raised the issue of job losses in Parliament yesterday.

He said: "A lot of our small businesses are just running out of cash because banks won't lend to them."

Corby MP and East Midlands Minister Phil Hope said: "I am determined to ensure people in the region who are affected by the economic downturn have the support they need and that the region itself is helped through these difficult times."