SCORES of workers in Kent face months of uncertainty after cable operator NTL/Telewest announced that 6,000 jobs are to be axed.

The company stunned employees by saying that more than a third of the 17,000-strong workforce would go by the end of next year.

The controversial decision, which has been denounced by trade unions, follows the recent £3.4bn merger of the two companies to create Britain’s dominant cable operator.

Job losses had been expected, but the extent of the cull shocked workers. Between them, NTL and Telewest employ around 200 people across Kent. Telewest’s operation at Gillingham Business Park alone has 80 people, including engineers and sales staff.

A further 15 or so are based in Tunbridge Wells, with NTL employing around 100 people at various locations, including Ashford and Bromley.

No decision has yet been taken about the future of these jobs, but a spokeswoman warned that cuts could not be ruled out.

She said: “We’ve announced a headline figure that’s across all NTL and Telewest operations.

“There’s no impact on the staff in Gillingham but that doesn’t mean to say there won’t be in the future.

“We can’t say either way at the moment, which I know is difficult for staff. We totally understand it’s an uncertain time for them.”

Most of the job losses affect call centre workers in Liverpool, Swansea and Teeside.

Trade union BECTU demanded assurances on the future of jobs.

Official Sharon Elliott said: “NTL staff will be looking to their management to enter into meaningful talks with their representatives about any proposed job cuts in order to produce truly constructive ways of dealing with any restructuring.”