South Devon says: "SAVE OUR JOBS"

THE battle is on to help hundreds of workers across South Devon after a week of devastating jobs misery.

The jobs axe has fallen across the area with a number of high profile and well-established companies announcing shock closures and cut backs:

Around 90 jobs are under threat at Torquay-based Creative Foods.

100 people are to lose their jobs at Axminster Carpets in Buckfast.

36 jobs are to go at Newton Abbot engineering firm Centrax.

Torbay Council has cut 25 full-time posts as part of its £10million budget reduction.

The Dreams bed stores have also gone into administration, but it is hoped 171 of the 266 stores may be saved. Staff at the Riviera Way Retail Park in Torquay were still awaiting confirmation of their fate.

Thomas Cook also announced it will cut 2,500 jobs in the UK and close some stores as it attempts to revive its profitability. The travel agency has shops in Torquay, Paignton and Newton Abbot. The company said most of the job losses will come from its 'back-office functions and its retail network'.

Desserts company Creative Foods, based in Coombe Lane, Watcombe, is looking to outsource its operations to Somerset.

Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver is now trying to persuade them to stay.

He toured the unit six months ago and said the council would be contacting the company to see if there was any way of changing their mind.

At its last meeting Torbay Council agreed to set up a £1million Growth Fund to help companies.

Torbay is also sending a special delegation to the House of Commons to meet Ministers in a bid to persuade companies to invest in the Bay.

Teignbridge Council was also visiting Axminsters Carpets Spinning Company at Buckfast where workers were being offered specialist advice.

Council leader Jeremy Christophers described the news as 'dreadful' and Buckfastleigh deputy mayor Ann Armstrong said it was a 'black day for Buckfast'.

Some 90 employees at Creative Foods are facing redundancy with the firm sub-contracting the business to Taunton.

The desserts currently manufactured in Torquay may be produced under licence by Ministry of Cake, part of the Greencore Group in Taunton.

Creative Foods said a Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment consultation exercise was underway with all staff.

The spokesman said: "After a thorough strategic review of our Creative Foods dessert manufacturing business based in Torquay, we believe, under our current business priorities and in order to remain competitive in this market, that Brakes (the parent company) should consider outsourcing the production of these products."

Axminster Carpets went into administration culling 300 jobs, at least 100 of which are at its subsidiary Buckfast Spinning Company.

Newton Abbot-based engineering firm Centrax announced it will shed up to 36 positions, just four months after laying off 20 temporary posts.

The Board of Axminster Carpets appointed Duff & Phelps as joint administrators on Tuesday.

It has decided to scale down the carpet manufacturing operations and cease yarn production.

The factory shop in Buckfast will remain open.

Company director Joshua Dutfield said: "Trading has been difficult and although it saddens the board to make the decision to enter administration, it could not be avoided."

Milber-based Centrax, which opened in 1946, employs around 700 people across European sites.

Director and general manager Tony Wiltshire said: "Unfortunately, we do have to confirm Centrax Turbine Components Ltd has had to announce up to 36 redundancies across its business."

Torbay Council has lost 25 full time jobs as part of its £10million budget cuts.

A Torbay Council spokesman said : "The council is still undergoing change processes so final figures for 2012/13 will not be available until after the end of the financial year.

"However, the figures for the year to date are that 25 full time employees have been lost via redundancy."