VAN maker LDV has cut 130 jobs in an attempt to reduce costs and improve its competitiveness. The company hopes staff involved will take voluntary redundancy.

A spokesman: 'The light commercial vehicle market, in common with the passenger car market, continues to be extremely tough. That, combined with the overvalued Pound and the weak Euro, means an extremely challenging business environment. Other companies have responded to this with factory closures, production line closures and swingeing cost reductions.

'While we have not suffered as severely as some due to tight cost control in the past, we nonetheless have to secure our future by continuing to focus our attention in this area. The actions that are in place will ensure the future competitiveness of LDV within the light commercial vehicle market.'