STAFF at a Suffolk town's major employer are bracing themselves for mass redundancies after the beleaguered company went into administration.Community leaders last night spoke of their concern over the future of Workspace Office Solutions, in Haverhill, and the possibility of more than 300 jobs being axed.

STAFF at a Suffolk town's major employer are bracing themselves for mass redundancies after the beleaguered company went into administration.

Community leaders last night spoke of their concern over the future of Workspace Office Solutions, in Haverhill, and the possibility of more than 300 jobs being axed.

Although no redundancies have yet been made, it is believed staff at the company, a leading provider of office furniture, will not be paid for two weeks.

The news comes just weeks after fears were voiced over job losses at the town's biggest employer -Grampian Country Pork - following the announced closure of the firm's site in Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds.

Haverhill district councillor George Hatchell said: “This is a major concern to staff and to the whole town, at a time when we are trying to boost Haverhill's image.

“It will be such a worry to all those employees who have the fear of redundancy hanging over their heads and they will be concerned they might not have a job.

“Workspace Office Solutions has always employed quite a few people within the town and over the years I am told it has been a good company to work for.

“A lot of families work there and a lot of people have worked there for a long time - it would be a major blow if it closed.”

The company - formerly Project Office Furniture - employs 324 staff at its main Suffolk base and throughout showrooms across the country.

West Suffolk MP Richard Spring said: “I am very concerned about this, although I am hopeful the matter will be resolved.

“On the positive side, there are now a significant number of job opportunities available in Haverhill, and if the worst comes to the worst and people are made redundant, they will be able to find alternative employment.”

A spokesman for the company's administrators, Deloitte & Touche, said: “Workspace Office Solutions will continue to trade whilst a sale of the business is pursued by the administrators. No redundancies have been made to date.”

Earlier this month , the EADT announced almost 400 jobs would be lost at the Grampian factory in Elmswell, a move that sparked fear the firm's Haverhill site - which employs around 1,000 people - could also be under threat.