A BOLTON-based national law firm is to cut its workforce by 50.

Keoghs Solicitors is making 25 redundancies at its new headquarters building on the Parklands Business Park -- opposite the Reebok Stadium.

And another 25 will go when the firm -- one of the UK's leading insurance litigation practices -- closes the Southampton office it established 18 months ago when it acquired a local firm, Sansbury Hill.

The redundancies will affect both solicitors and support staff.

Keoghs, which was founded as Keogh Ritson in 1968, grew over the years to the point where it occupied five separate offices in Chorley New Road, Bolton and one on the St Peter's Office Park in The Valley.

More than 300 staff transferred to the purpose-built building in Lostock during the Easter weekend this year.

Staff and clients have now been told that as a result of consolidating and streamlining -- and despite increasing levels of new instructions -- the business needs fewer people than it did 12 months ago.

The Bolton workforce will be reduced to 285.

Keoghs say they can best meet their clients' requirements for a cost effective service by relocating the work of the Southampton office to Bolton and the firm's other premises in Coventry, where 43 people will not be affected.

Chief Executive Paul Smith said: "If we are to continue to trade profitably in a competitive market it is important that we take the necessary steps to ensure our business is operating as cost-effectively as possible."

He added: "We are concerned for the people who will be leaving and have put together a package of support measures which will help them to move to new employment as quickly and smoothly as possible."