Vodafone axes 500 UK jobs

Mobile phone operator Vodafone is axing 500 jobs in the UK to cut costs, with a number of the jobs to go in IT.

The job cuts are part of a previously announced plan to save £1bn in global operating costs by 2011.

The 500 job losses include 170 posts at Vodafone's head office in Newbury, Berkshire, in back-office roles.

Jobs will also go in call centres and other offices. Vodafone has sites at Newark, Banbury, Theale, Trowbridge, London, Warrington, Stoke-on-Trent and Hayes.

"Vodafone UK has today announced reductions to its operating costs in order for it to compete more effectively in the UK market," the company said.