Cable and Wireless 'may halve UK staff'

Telecoms group Cable & Wireless dealt a fresh blow to staff today by warning it could halve its UK workforce in the next five years.

The group, which acquired Energis last year, said it envisaged its current headcount of 5,500 would fall to between 2,500 and 3,500 in the next four to five years. It added that 350 jobs would be lost in the current financial year.