KODAK, one of the borough's biggest employers, announced that 250 jobs will be axed at its Wealdstone site by early next year.

As part of a radical restructure, the photographics giant will close a large section of its operations at the plant, in Headstone Drive, by March 2005. It currently employs 1,350 of Kodak's 3,000-strong workforce.

The swingeing cuts will affect staff in the graphic sensitising department. The closure was blamed on declining popularity of traditional pictures and the rising appeal of digital photography.

However, amid the gloom, it was also revealed that the Wealdstone site is to become the company's new national headquarters. This will mean 300 employees moving from Hemel Hempstead to Harrow.

Director of manufacturing at the Wealdstone site Dennis Lock, said: "The announcement comes as Kodak continues to change the business to meet the rapid shift in consumer trends from traditional to digital imaging.

"This has been a difficult decision to take, and is no reflection on the highly-valued work performed by personnel working within the traditional manufacturing operations at Harrow. All employees affected will be treated with respect, with Kodak ensuring they receive highly competitive severance terms, plus access to counseling support and an outplacement program to assist in identifying alternative employment."

Two leading trade unions spoke out against the job losses.

The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) and Amicus said in a joint statement that they were deeply disappointed and surprised at the scale of the job losses.

Amicus official Joe McGowan, said, "Both unions and all shop stewards are fully committed to supporting every single one of our members in Harrow. We will not standby and watch the de-industrialisation of the UK."

T&G branch secretary Peter Allsopp said: "Not one union member in Kodak will be forced to walk the plank because of the company's proposals. We will ensure that any job losses will be on a voluntary basis first for our Harrow members."

Both T&G and Amicus will interrogate Kodak representatives on the thinking behind the proposals. They will also consult all Kodak union members prior to a full response by management.

More than 600 Kodak jobs will go nationwide, while a factory in Nottingham will be closed. Both unions feared the cuts signalled Kodak's desire to move jobs from Britain to America.