DIRECTORS and middle managers at Hampshire DIY giant B&Q are among 70 staff facing a miserable Christmas after being axed, the company has revealed.

About 100 staff at the firm's Chandler's Ford split-site headquarters are on a list from which 70 workers will be made redundant. Two directors as well as departmental managers are among those threatened with redundancy at the HQ, where 1,400 people are employed.

B&Q bosses, who posted six monthly profits of more than £2 billion earlier this year, said the 70 staff cut won't have to work their notice and will be paid anyway.

Workers find out who is to go on Monday, December 6.

B&Q's human resources director Mike Cutt, said: "The 70 jobs are spread throughout the grades from directors through middle managers to staff.''

He defended the decision to lay off staff in the run up to Christmas, saying it reduced uncertainty. There is never a good time to do anything like this.

"What we have been careful to do in terms of the time is to get it all done early enough to be finished by Christmas.

"We have made the decision to do this and if we held back there is a danger the information might leak out and create uncertainty for more people."

Mr Cutt declined to discuss the redundancy terms but said they were better than the statutory minimum.

Criteria to decide who gets the chop are now being devised by the firm together with a "consultative forum" made up of staff.

Mr Cutt said there were no unions involved because "employees don't seem to have a need for one" and highlighted B&Q's job creation plans.

He added: "We are creating something like 3,000 jobs nationwide this year and probably 3,000 again next year. But there will also be new jobs at head office."

Are you one of the 100 getting the axe for Christmas? If so contact the Daily Echo Business Desk in confidence on 023 8042 4499.