TWENTY-six posts are to be axed in the BBC South region as part of the broadcasting corporation's nationwide cull of 2,050 jobs.

Bosses will now start identifying which jobs will have to go as part of the plans to save £221m by 2008.

Although no final decision has been made on where the axe will fall the majority of the losses are thought to be likely at the Southampton-based studios at Havelock Road.

Spokesman John Ramsden said: "It will be likely that most of the job losses will be in Southampton."

The redundancies will take place in the next two to three years and were announced yesterday afternoon by BBC director general Mark Thompson.

Following the announcement union bosses warned the BBC it could face severe industrial unrest.

Mr Thompson, who personally delivered the news in a message to all staff, was accused of "ripping the heart" out of BBC programme making.

Union leaders will meet on Wednesday to decide how to respond but made it clear they will ballot journalists, technicians and other workers for industrial action if there are any compulsory redundancies.