ONE of Huddersfield’s most well-known firms is to cut its workforce.

David Brown today confirmed that up to 75 jobs could be axed at its Lockwood premises from its 450-strong workforce.

But the engineering giant – which has just secured planning permission for a new factory in Mirfield – is also hoping to create some new posts.

The firm hopes to take on 30 additional employees and plans to continue recruiting apprentices.

News of the shock jobs blow was given to workers at a mass meeting in the canteen at the firm’s Park Works.

It left many of the workers stunned.

One said: “Letters have gone out to most of the shopfloor workforce and it seems those who will be leaving will be out by March 23.

“No-one had a clue. They called us in to the canteen and handed out the letters. A lot of people have worked at the firm for years.”

Brown’s have plans to relocate part of the business to a new site off Leeds Road, Mirfield, but intend to retain much of the Lockwood site.

It was announced yesterday, however, that Kirklees Council is buying part of the Park Works site for future investment.

A spokesman for the company, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary said: “Due to the continued changing mix of workload and following a careful review of the business and core skill requirements, it is anticipated that the restructure will put around 75 current roles at risk of being made redundant.

“However at the same time 30 crucial new roles have been identified for recruitment in the UK this year to enable the business’s future growth plans.

“Over the last two years the business has invested heavily in new skills for developing markets like wind and tidal energy, creating more than 85 new roles and it is anticipated that over the next three to five years around 150 new jobs will be created in the renewables sector.