BUROSTAT, the company that rocked the country with its Karma Chameleon telephone six months ago could be moving part of its business out of Ipswich leaving some of its 90 staff redundant, The Evening Star can reveal today.

BUROSTAT, the company that rocked the country with its Karma Chameleon telephone six months ago could be moving part of its business out of Ipswich leaving some of its 90 staff redundant, The Evening Star can reveal today.

A spokesman for Woodpecker Plc which owns Burostat, told The Star consultations were beginning with staff and it would be some time before any decision would be made.

"An announcement was made to staff yesterday with regard to the possible transfer of part of this business to elsewhere.

"This may or may not happen. If it does then there is the possibility that some staff would move and others could be made redundant. At this point we do not know what will happen but all our staff are being fully consulted and kept informed," he added.

Burostat has been based in Cavendish Street for more than 20 years, manufacturing and supplying advertising gifts including pens, leather goods, leisurewear, paper blocks and novelty phones.

It was taken over by Chichester-based Woodpecker Plc in October 2000, a company which also owns several other businesses involved in stationery and print across the country.

The company got the idea of manufacturing a phone based on that used in a BT advert after they heard the communications giant had been bombarded with people asking where they could buy one.

The landline phone played the Culture Club and Boy George hit tune instead of using a ring tone. It was put on the market in September and within a few weeks had sold 40,000 to retailers.

Burostat is a fully paid up member of the BPMA, the British Promotional Merchandise Association.