TWENTY-five workers at one of Hampshire's most famous food producers have been told they are surplus to requirements.

Their jobs are being cut by Vitacress Salads, which employs more than 650 people across the south.

The company - which hit the business headlines earlier this week after a safety violation - today blamed the supermarket giants for squeezing profits.

Vitacress is Europe's largest grower and packer of watercress, a star produce this region.

Its chief executive, Nick Stenning, said: "It is with deep regret that we are forced to make this decision and we thank all those who are leaving for their valuable contribution. We wish them well in the future."

A company statement said: "The redundancies were forced on the company because of the extremely tough competition among supermarkets, which is driving down prices.

"This in turn means that Vitacress must carefully manage its costs. In addition, there has been a lot of pressure on sales, which have not grown as rapidly as expected."

As reported earlier this week, the company was fined £4,000 after employee Pacita Padilla suffered a fractured hand and wrist in a conveyor belt incident.

Vitacress admitted breaches in a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive.

A safety guard on a machine, which would have prevented the accident, was missing.

Sales of watercress increased by £1.75m last year after Vitacress and two other producers in Hampshire clubbed together to launch a publicity campaign with glamour model Jo Guest, pictured above, lying naked in the crop.