More than 100 jobs are on the line at Rentokil Initial in Lowestoft today after the firm said it was shutting down its UK linen and workwear business.The company employs 2000 staff nationwide - 114 of them in Suffolk.

More than 100 jobs are on the line at Rentokil Initial in Lowestoft today after the firm said it was shutting down its UK linen and workwear business.

The company employs 2000 staff nationwide, with 114 of them at its regional operation in Suffolk and has said it does not yet know how many staff will be made redundant.

Chief executive Doug Flynn said: "Our UK linen and workwear activities have sustained considerable losses for several years and the need to exit this operation has been clear for some time.

"Today's announcement does not impact our linen and workwear operations in continental Europe, where we have built up a number of profitable and growing businesses."

Last year the company had operating losses of £9m, up from £5m in 2004 despite similar levels of trading.

The division is expected to stop trading at the end of April, but the move will not affect other parts of Initial Hygiene UK such as supplying washroom services and dustmats.