MORE than 100 staff at Clevedon's biggest employer found out yesterday afternoon their jobs are at risk.

Employees at Clerical Medical's Castlewood office on Tickenham Road were called into a meeting at 3pm to hear the bombshell.

Clerical Medical, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, is merging its sales force with sister brand Scottish Widows.

In total 305 jobs are at risk, of which 115 sales and customer support jobs in Clevedon face the axe.

Archie Kane, group executive director of insurance at Lloyds Banking Group, presented the devastating news as a move to streamline its organisation.

He said: "This is the first important step in our aim to establish one simplified organisation.

"We are mindful of the rich heritage and strength of the Clerical Medical brand. However, our research has shown that Scottish Widows is the most recognised and trusted brand in the market place.

"Today's announcement takes us a step closer to achieving our vision: to be recognised as the best life, pension and investment company by our customers, colleagues and shareholders."

But that will come as little comfort to the Clevedon staff, who will bear the human cost of the decision.

Scores of staff were seen streaming out of the office yesterday afternoon clutching letters, too upset to speak the press, as cars queued to get out of its car park.

The decision has been blasted by the Accord union, which represents staff within the former HBOS group, which was taken over by Lloyds at the Government's bidding last year.

Speaking to the Mercury yesterday afternoon, Ged Nichols, general secretary of Accord, said: "Today's announcement is sad news for the loyal and efficient Clerical Medical workforce.

"Accord believes that LBG has a responsibility to work with us to do everything we can jointly to avoid compulsory redundancies.

"WhileAccord recognises that there is a clear overlap between Clerical Medical and Scottish Widows, LBG should not be tempted to seek unnecessary job cuts to achieve short-term cost savings to the detriment of the long-term future of the businesses, the parent bank and the UK economy as a whole."

Lloyds said it would seek to avoid compulsory redundancies and try to re-deploy Clevedon staff where possible at its Bristol headquarters on the Harbourside.

The sales teams will be merged as of July 1 and the Clerical Medical brand will, over time, no longer be used for new business.

Founded in 1824, it has a long and proud history, and lengthy links with Bristol.

Its Clevedon office opened in the early 1990s and is the biggest employer in Clevedon and one of the largest private employers in the whole of North Somerset.

In total 600 people are employed at Castlewood. A spokesman for Lloyds refused to speculate on the office's future viability.