offshore

Gas and electricity giant NPower is to make 1,460 staff redundant, it has confirmed.

The German-owned company, one of the 'big six' electricity and gas suppliers in the UK, will cut jobs including checking meter readings against bills.

Chief executive Paul Massara said: "This restructure is necessary if we are to deliver the levels of service our customers deserve."

It is not clear how service quality will be improved by sending these functions offshore, but the company will now use staff in India to deliver them.

NPower currently employs 9,600 people in the UK.