Workers at a factory supplying Oxfordshire firm Siemens Magnet Technology say they cannot guarantee job security after imposing new shifts.

Management at LTI Metal- tech, based at Milton Park, near Didcot, want more than 90 staff to drop lucrative night and weekend shifts in favour of a straight two-shift system.

It will mean some workers will face a drop in wages of up to 40 per cent and be forced to adapt to new hours.

The move mirrors the situation at Eynsham-based Siemens which, as the Oxford Mail reported on Saturday, is currently in talks with staff about dropping weekend and night shifts. One LTI worker, who declined to be named, said: "There have been people on the night shift who have been in tears because they have just taken out mortgages on the strength of their income.

"Now they are at risk of losing them. People's partners are also being affected as they have arranged their work around the childcare. It could ruin us.

"We have been told to sign this contract or get called in to discuss our employment.

"Management is hoping people will just leave but people can't find another job just like that."

A company statement said the shift changes were part of a plan to "review efficiency." No redundancies were planned and there was no downturn in business.

It added: "No company can guarantee job security. However, this change will contribute to creating the right environment for the company to remain successful in the coming years."

Asked if the management was expecting workers to hand in their notice, the company reponded by saying: "We value our members of staff and while we realise this may be a possibility, all employees have been allocated jobs in the new shift pattern."

LTI, which makes parts used in magnetic resouce imaging (MRI) magnets supplied to hospitals, only has one customer Siemens.

Two shifts are planned 6am-2pm and 2-10pm replacing the existing 5pm-3.30am night shift and the 7am-4.45pm day shift with the weekend shift scrapped.

On Saturday the Oxford Mail revealed Siemens staff were also being forced to face up to wages being cut by up to 40 per cent.

A further 12 team leaders' jobs are being axed, although the firm said they would be offered alternative employment.