Shipley electronics giant Filtronic has laid-off more than 30 workers in a cost-cutting measure as the firm continues to feel the effects of the global recession.

Staff in permanent posts across the firm are understood to have been affected by the news, which was broken to some individuals at meetings yesterday.

Some workers left earlier this week, others are expected to learn they have lost their jobs on Monday.

Today one member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said there was some resentment at the way the cutbacks had been made and announced.

"We were told about three weeks ago that redundancies were in the pipeline and after one to one consultations, a few people have gone this week," he said. "The rest were supposed to have been told on Friday, but some have now been told it will be Monday.

"It is the first time anything like this has happened here, so the mood is not very good at the minute."

Executive chairman Professor David Rhodes confirmed a number of staff had been given notification of the redundancies.

He blamed the decision on difficult trading conditions, which has seen the firm's share price continue to struggle in recent weeks and months.

"This is simply a requirement in the current economic climate for us to cut costs," he said. "The redundancies are not in any specific department."

He said there were no plans to announce further redundancies in the coming weeks.

The member of staff said: "I feel a little resentful at this. It could have been handled a lot better. We knew things were bad, but it does hit home a bit when it is actually announced.

"The official company line is that it has followed official Government procedures, but it has seemed a very long and protracted way of doing things. We would rather have had the bad news quickly."

All of the jobs were expected to go at the firm's Saltaire headquarters, across manufacturing and administration departments.

Filtronic employs 1,000 people at its sites in Saltaire and Baildon, and produces a wide range of components.

The value of Filtronic's shares last night fell by 1p to 56.5p at the close of business