Staff at a threatened telecomms office say they have been sent ‘sorry you’re leaving’ e-mails even though their employer says the closure threat is just a proposal at present.

Nearly 60 staff at the Bradford office of BT Directories Online in the former telephone exchange building off Manchester Road could be facing redundancy as part of a restructure by a subsidiary of the telecomms giant.

One of the workers said BT had sent staff e-mails informing them that employee services such as mobile telephones and broadband access had been suspended because they were going.

BT has confirmed it is consulting on scaling back its sales and support operations.

Shocked staff based at the office claim that the closure move comes only a month after a dozen new staff were taken on.

They said news of the proposed job cuts had come “as a bolt from the blue” with the office possibly due to close on September 11.

The office, which has operated for about three years, offers website design and build services.

One of the affected staff, who did not wish to be named, told the Telegraph & Argus: “This has come as a big shock soon after some of us got letters telling us we’d be getting a pay rise and only a month after new staff were taken on.

“BT is getting rid of everyone, including managers, in what was a flagship operation. The closure date has been set for 9/11. This was a complete bolt from the blue.

“We’ve received e-mails saying ‘sorry you’re leaving’ and telling us our employee services are being suspended, even though BT says no final decision has been taken about the closure.”

The company confirmed that the BT Directories Bradford office, which employs 59 people, along with one in Lancaster, was earmarked to close following a business review.

In a statement, BT said: “Following a review, BT Directories Online is proposing to scale back its sales and support operations to improve its operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.

“The proposal is to reduce the number of people employed and to consolidate the sales and operations work at three of our regional sites.

“The sites affected are in Bradford and Lancaster. Our sales and support operations at Glasgow, Dundee and Dudley would remain open and any residual work transferred to them. We believe this approach will put the business in a much better position to develop and grow in the future.

“We’re currently consulting with our staff in Bradford and Lancaster about their options in the event the closure of both sites goes ahead.”

BT engineers based at the site are unaffected by the possible cutbacks.