Up to 70 jobs are at risk at a Bradford manufacturer after it announced it has plans to transfer production overseas.

Federal-Mogul is to move its assembly operations from its Princeville site in Lister Hills, Bradford, to Aartselaar in Belgium and Chivasso in Italy.

The move will affect 70 positions at the Greyhound Drive site, where a total of 219 people are employed.

A letter seen by the Telegraph & Argus, which was sent to staff by two senior managers, said the proposal will also have an effect on other aspects of the business.

However a spokesman for the company said that the transfer will only effect those involved in the assembly operation and that it was business as usual for other workers at Greyhound Drive.

Staff now face an anxious wait to see what future they will have with company. A 30-day consultation process has been launched at the end of which the affected workers will learn of their fate.

An employee at Federal-Mogul, who did not wish to be identified, contacted the Telegraph & Argus to say: "We have been told that 70 employees will be made redundant in 30 days' time, with no union who will fight for our jobs or even make sure we get a good pay off."

A spokesman for Federal-Mogul said: "As part of Federal-Mogul's global restructuring strategy designed to deliver improved efficiencies and customer service, the company has developed a proposal to transfer the Bradford assembly operation to two other locations, affecting up to 70 employees at the site.

"Federal-Mogul has announced plans to enter into formal consultation with the affected employees and their representatives at Bradford.

"This decision is in no way a reflection on the employees' skills and commitment to the company.

"Federal-Mogul will inform its employees of all developments during the consultation process."

This is not the first time redundancies have been made at Federal-Mogul - formerly Hepworth and Grandage and later Turner and Newall - following the transfer of jobs abroad. In 2004, 380 jobs were lost after the company closed its piston plant at Neville Road, Bowling.

The business has been experiencing difficulties in the UK since it went into administration in 2001.

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk