VERTEX training Services has announced it is to close its Chorley call centre as part of a company restructure -- with the loss of up to 40 jobs.

VTS, in Little Carr Lane, provides staff training for both technical and customer services to employees of United Utilities' call centres and other external clients. The local centre is mainly concerned with utilities.

The firm's public relations manager Robert Edis said the decision was made following a thorough evaluation of the company's current position, with business needing to be restructured to meet ongoing customer requirements. He said: "It means that the two distinct areas that make up VTS will be split. The technical training division will be streamlined with smaller administrative support, as a more fit-for-purpose business, while the customer services side will be merged with the mainstream Vertex business to provide support for existing and future customers." Staff at the Chorley centre have been told of the closure and, according to Mr Edis, six have already been placed in jobs elsewhere in the company.

He said: "Some of the others have been offered voluntary severance and negotiations are still ongoing as to the future use of the site."

If no suitable use is found, the centre will close some time next year.

As well as being responsible for setting up and managing call centres for bills and processing for utilities, VTS also trains staff in customer services and telemarketing for many retail call centres, such as Cable and Wireless, North West Water and Littlewoods Direct.