CAR parts maker Delphi Automotive Systems today announced plans to axe 71 jobs at its Kirkby plant due to falling orders.

The redundancies will affect almost a quarter of the 300-plus workforce in the Moorgate Road plant on Knowsley Industrial Park which makes electronic components for car manufacturers such as Jaguar, Vauxhall and Peugeot.

Talks about the job losses have started between the company and unions about the 30-day consultation period.

A company spokesman said today: "Delphi’s Liverpool plant is undertaking a 30 day consultation period with unions and employee representatives regarding the planned termination of 71 positions due to reductions in orders for parts manufactured at the plant as our customers respond to very challenging global economic conditions in the automotive industry.

"The move was proposed to unions after a six month period during which Delphi provided significant salary support to minimise the financial hardship to employees due to short-time working and attempted to reduce its workforce at the site through a voluntary separation package."

Unite the Union expressed its disappointment at news of the cuts and called on the government to speed up its assistance for the auto industry in a bid to help stave off the redundancies.

Phil Allman, Unite regional officer, said: "We met with the company last week where Unite representatives expressed their disappointment at the proposals to make 71 workers redundant from its 300 plus workforce.

"Workers are frustrated and upset. For the past eight months they have had lay-offs in a bid to save costs.