Potential job losses at an under-threat Redruth meat factory have been substantially reduced from the company's original estimate.

Tulip Ltd (formerly Roach Foods) announced a significant number of redundancies from their Redruth site on April 30.

It was estimated at the time 98 meat processors and packers would lose their jobs due to spiralling costs in an over-capacity industry. The estimated figure has now been reduced to 64.

Drew Weir, operations director of Tulip Cornwall, said that although the consultation process was still ongoing, indications were that the number of positions lost was around 64, rather than the 98 originally proposed.

Mr Weir added: "Obviously we are pleased there will be fewer people impacted by the potential redundancies and will continue to work towards a solution that has the least impact on our colleagues.

"We will endeavour to keep everyone fully updated with developments throughout the consultation process and our number one priority remains the securing of the long term future or our Redruth operation."

The losses are as a result of a number of factors, including the industry being over-capacity in addition to the cost of raw materials and production costs dramatically increasing.

In the past, Mr Weir has said that to remain in the market Tulip Ltd had to ensure they were the lowest cost producers to be able to compete competitively in the current trading environment.