PLANS to overhaul Maidstone-based bioscience group Whatman International will lead to 72 jobs being cut in the UK, it has been announced.

It is part of a shake-up by new chairman Bob Thian which will cut the firm's world-wide workforce from 1,035 to 800.

It is not yet known how the cuts will affect the hundreds of people employed by the company at its at Allington headquarters or its plants at Springfield Mill and Park Wood.

The firm also has a plant in Oxfordshire but the majority of its manufacturing workforce is based in America. As well as paper it now specialises in healthcare and bioscience products, including filters to keep donated blood free of contamination.

Mr Thian said: "The job losses will be across the board and there is no specific information yet on where they will be. It is a matter which will go into consultation with the staff's representatives and I expect to know more in the next few weeks."