INSURANCE workers in Ipswich are to lose their jobs after industry giant Axa announced up to 700 posts are to be axed.The news comes just days after the Evening Star announced that Axa was to create ten extra jobs in Ipswich – today the company has confirmed that at least 12 posts in the town will be lost.

INSURANCE workers in Ipswich are to lose their jobs after industry giant Axa announced up to 700 posts are to be axed.

The news comes just days after the Evening Star announced that Axa was to create ten extra jobs in Ipswich – today the company has confirmed that at least 12 posts in the town will be lost.

Phil Hickley, a spokesman for the company said: "It will affect the Morecambe and Darlington offices in the main with approximately a dozen jobs in Ipswich affected.

"We will seek the views of the individuals concerned and will look to redeploy them in other parts of the business."

Currently Axa employs around 1,300 people in its Civic Drive offices, the total number affected by today's announcement is not yet known.

Initially 220 jobs are to be axed nationally as the company updates its business strategy by halting the promotion of Axa Direct.

Another 250 posts are expected to go when further efficiency measures are introduced – that number will hit 700 if plans to switch call centres to India go ahead.

The company has had an operation in Bangalore since 1997 supporting Axa in the US, Australia and Japan.

The possible shift of UK jobs to India reflects a growing trend to move operations abroad – finance giant Abbey have also announced a similar move.