The redundancies follow the family firm's establishment of a plant in the Czech Republic last year and a recent 2.4m share dividend pay-out to chairman Matt Thomson and his four director sons.

Both the company and the local GPMU branch refused to comment on the job losses.

While Thomson's overseas sales were up by 23% in 2003, UK turnover fell by 39%. The East Kilbride News reported fears among workers at the plant that, despite rising profits, there were more cuts to come.

The job cuts at Thomson follow news last week that Polestar is also planning to downsize its East Kilbride plant (PrintWeek, 8 April 2004). Almost half of its 208 employees will be laid off.