BT workers in Kent are braced for job losses after the loss-making telecommunications giant warned at least 15,000 jobs were at risk.

An "unacceptable" performance by its global services division has been blamed for a £1.3bn loss, BT’s first full-year deficit since 2001.

The latest proposed job cuts follow an earlier exercise that saw 15,000 people leave the business.

BT’s main offices in Kent are in Sevenoaks, Canterbury, Chatham and Tunbridge Wells together employ more than 1,500 people.

Many more are based in the county, working from home or in smaller locations.

In a statement, BT said: "Like last year, we anticipate the reductions to be peppered around the globe, rather than concentrated in any particular location. BT has no plans to introduce compulsory redundancies. Among other things, we will be looking to see if UK workers can take on some of the work currently carried out overseas."

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