UP TO 150 jobs have been saved after delivery group DHL won a multi-million pound contract to manage retail chain B&Q’s distribution network from 2012.

The deal includes B&Q’s newly-built distribution centre in Swindon and its regional consolidation centre in Preston Brook, near Runcorn.

In June this year B&Q announced 615 redundancies at the site to take effect next year in a shake-up of its distribution network.

Now it turns out DHL will retain about 150 of those staff and retail union Usdaw is hopeful the company will be able to save more of the 465 positions that remain in doubt by winning more work for the site.

Usdaw area organiser Nick Gerrard said: “This announcement by DHL is very welcome news as it will safeguard up to 150 jobs at the Preston Brook distribution centre.

“DHL have confirmed that they will continue to search for further business for Preston Brook and Usdaw will continue to work hard alongside the company to try and save as many jobs at the site as possible.”

B&Q said the contract will involve the Preston Brook site receiving stock from other regional distribution centres and vendors and delivering an average of 250 store loads a week.

Rick Jones, director of value chain logistics at B&Q, added: “We announced our plans to review our distribution strategy back in June, leading to the establishment of a new regional distribution centre in Swindon.”

The restructuring could cost up to 1,031 jobs at several B&Q distribution depots around the country in the run- up to the introduction of the new arrangement from February 2012.