CIVIC leaders today warned of massive unemployment if one of Whiteley's biggest employers moves its call centre to India.

Abbey National is considering switching its personal loan and mortgage processing centre in Whiteley abroad where wage costs are cheaper.

The move could see up to 600 Abbey National workers made redundant.

Now staff at Solent business Park have been left facing an uncertain future after bosses failed to guarantee their jobs.

They insisted there were no definite plans and no announcement would be made within the next few weeks.

Today Fareham council leader Sean Woodward said the bank giant's departure from Whiteley could bring an end to Fareham's enviable employment record.

"We don't have an employment problem now in the borough," he said."But if Abbey National do up sticks and leave we will have one. It's one of the bigger employers at Whiteley. I always find it sad when companies do this.

"It doesn't necessarily mean the company will offer a better service by having its call centre in India."

The possible job losses were first mooted in July by chief executive Luqman Arnold when the bank published its interim results.

He said he would consider relocating some services to India in the current climate of financial services off-shoring their operations abroad.

Lloyds TSB and Zurich Financial Services have already carried out pilot schemes in Bangalore where Indian workers man call centres for much lower pay. At the Abbey National's Whiteley centre a call centre worker earns between £12,000 and £15,000, substantially more than the £2,600 take home pay of an Indian worker.

Linda Rolph, general secretary of Abbey National Group Union said: "Legally we cannot stop Abbey National off-shoring its business. We are aware it's a strong possibility. Workers feel they are in a bit of a catch 22 situation."