HUNDREDS of Bolton workers fear for their futures after a decision by Argos owner GUS to sell its logistics and customer care business.

Today more than 600 workers at Reality -- the firm being sold by GUS to the Barclay brothers -- were seeking reassurance that their jobs will be safe.

They have been disturbed by comments made by a spokesman for the brothers' March UK company that it was "too early to say" whether there would be job cuts among the 17,500 people employed nationally by the businesses.

GUS is also selling its home shopping businesses in the UK, Ireland and Sweden to the millionaire Barclay brothers for £590 million in a move designed to cut GUS's debts.

Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, who were estimated to be the 34th richest men in Britain by the Sunday Times Rich List, will merge GUS's mail order arm with the Littlewood business they bought from the Moores family last year for £750 million. Littlewoods also employs people in Bolton.

Bill Connor, general secretary of the Manchester-based Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, wants to open talks with both managements.

He said: "Our primary concern is job security for our 6,000 GUS members in Britain. We are seeking urgent talks with both GUS and Littlewoods to find out more about the proposed deal and the implication for jobs." Last year workers at Reality in Bolton were on the verge of industrial action over plans to divert call centre calls to India. The latest news on the firm's future has stunned some workers.

One said: "We just want to know what is happening and whether our jobs will be secure."

GUS announced yesterday that it was selling its Reality logistics and customer care business in the UK to the Barclays' March UK for about £450 million.

Workers employed at Argos shops will not be affected, with GUS retaining ownership. The Argos Retail Group has signed contracts with March UK to continue home delivery and other services for up to three years.

GUS chief executive John Pearce said: "Since 2000 we have been streamlining GUS to focus on fewer businesses which operate in growth markets. The sale of our home shopping and Reality operations is the natural evolution of this process and marks a further step in the transformation of the group."

Following the transaction, the Argos Retail Group is left with Argos, the Homebase DIY chain, Dutch home shopping business Wehkamp, and ARG Financial Services.

Littlewoods and March UK chairman David Simons said: "Rationalisation is bound to have some impact on the number of people employed. I am utterly convinced that there will be more jobs saved from the transaction than would be lost."

The merger is subject to being given the green light by UK competition authorities.