TALKS to try to prevent more than 80 redundancies at a Bradford manufacturing firm were resuming today, according to union representatives.

Organisers and shop stewards in the GMB are in discussions to try to save 82 jobs at McBride's factory at Dudley Hill which employs 345 people.

The firm, which makes own-label household cleaning and toiletry products, announced proposals to cut 400 jobs, a quarter of its 1,600 UK workforce, at factories across Yorkshire and the North West on Monday as part of a "robust plan to help restore UK profitability."

Darren Travis, GMB organiser in Bradford, said last night: "These are very difficult times, but we are doing everything we can to minimise compulsory redundancies, such as looking at different work patterns.

"The consultation remains very meaningful, and will continue today."

A spokesman for McBrides confirmed that the consultation was "ongoing".

The firm, which also has factories in Hull, Barrow-in-Furness and Middleton, near its Manchester base, said it expected the proposed redundancies to save the business £12 million by June 2016, though it expects the job losses to result in a one-off cost of £14m.

McBride's, whose clients include Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda, said sales will be three per cent lower this year as rival makers of branded goods have cut prices to attract customers as part of supermarket price wars.