JOBS could be lost in Hampshire as Britain's biggest home delivery distributor plans to axe hundreds of posts across the country.

On the day that the country officially slid into recession workers at the Home Delivery Network Limited could be set to join the credit crunch casualty list.

The company plans to slash nearly 700 jobs across its business as it looks to cut costs and make efficiency savings.

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Eastleigh is one of seven depots where the axe could fall on jobs.

A HDNL spokesman would not say how many would be affected at the depot which is in the Boyatt Wood area and added: "As HDNL are in a consultation process, we do not have potential job losses specific to each depot."

The company also has a depot in Southampton.

The Unite and Usdaw unions said Home Delivery Network Ltd's decision to shut depots would have a "devastating effect" on workers and their families.

They pledged to try to help find alternative work for staff at the depots affected.

Home Delivery Network Ltd is the UK's largest home delivery and collection service.

Usdaw national officer Irene Radigan said: "We are working with HDNL to minimise compulsory redundancies as a result of this restructuring.

"The home shopping sector has seen a steady decline over the last few years and these redundancies are not a direct result of the economic downturn."

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