The plant is to make 92 redundancies in coming weeks from a staff of 462, as part of a Europe-wide restructure following the acquisition of Heidelberg's web division last August.

Goss is also planning 301 redundancies at its 850-staff Montataire plant in France.

Volunteers are being sought for the UK redundancies in all areas of the plant's operation, although Goss said it has not ruled out making compulsory cuts.

Goss director of marketing David Stamp said it would be "business as usual" at the Preston plant and that the redundancy plan would have no effect on the firm's product lines.

Amicus has reacted angrily to the plans, in particular to Goss' decision to allow workers over the age of 50 not to apply for early retirement but voluntary redundancy, which the union claims is an entitlement.

An Amicus spokesman said: "This affects the oldest and most loyal workers. We feel that Goss is trying to do this on the cheap because we know the money is there to pay the pensions."

Stamp said: "The terms of the voluntary redundancy offer are very generous with employees over 50 years old receiving a payment of one and one third times their annual salary. An average shop floor worker over 50 would leave with a payment of 28,000 tax free."

He said that trustees of the company's pension fund, and not the firm itself, were responsible for pensions.

Story by Josh Brooks