Railway worker 'shocked' by loss of job

One of the five railway workers made redundant by the Leisure Division of the Department of Community Culture and Leisure says the layoffs were 'a bolt out of the blue'.

Two blacksmiths, two painter/signwriters and a joiner were informed of the decision yesterday (Thursday), two months after it was announced up to 22 posts would go as the department tried to find savings of £800,000.

A total of 230 people work in the department's transport division.

Coach builder David Maddox says, despite the warnings, it was still a shock: