MORE than 100 financial jobs in Kent are at risk after the failure of Swiss Life to find a buyer for its UK insurance arm.

The Zurich-based group with offices in South Park, Sevenoaks, said it was closing the operation to new individual business. But speculation that the offices could close altogether was described as "premature".

A spokesman was unable to say how many jobs in the town would be affected but they would be part of a total of 200 jobs being shed in Sevenoaks and Liverpool.

A staff consultation process is about to start and will continue until November. Staff losing their jobs will then be told and given a minimum of three months' notice.

The Swiss Life Group, founded in 1857, is one of Europe's oldest financial companies. It employs around 11,000 people worldwide. Swiss Life UK has been in Sevenoaks since 1967.