SEVENTY jobs are to go at a Brighouse hardware distribution company.

Avocet Hardware plc, based at Brookfoot, said most of the job losses would come in its packing department, although a few office-based jobs would also be lost.

Operations manager Hedley Corcoran said the company would make no compulsory redundancies until the end of July.

"We have interviewed everyone affected in person and we are in contact with other local companies to try to find alternative jobs for them because they are a very good workforce," he said.

"We will also help them with job application forms and compiling CVs."

Mr Corcoran said the job losses followed a decision to improve efficiency by switching packing operations to China, where many of the company's products are made.

Avocet, which employs 440 workers at Brookfoot, supplies tools and equipment ranging from doors, locks and hinges to paint brushes and gardening gloves.