HUNDREDS of Brierley Hill jobs have been saved after what union chiefs claim is a policy turnaround by a major bank.

According to the Lloyds TSB Group Union (LTU) around 500 employees at a Merry Hill call centre were facing the axe as the bank moved operations to Mumbai, India.

Lloyds TSB recently announced the Indian centre is to close and jobs at the Waterfront offices are secure.

Dudley South MP and former trade minister Ian Pearson (left) said: "I am certainly delighted with reports these jobs are safe, I think it is really good news for local people."

The bank has rubbished claims the centre was under threat, despite having already closed similar centres in Newcastle and Peterborough.

Kirsty Clay, from Lloyds TSB, said: "The union are against offshoring and it is not uncommon for them to scaremonger, Dudley was not earmarked for closure and there are no plans to close it."

The LTU also claim senior management at the bank have acknowledged they will have to recruit more UK call centre staff to replace those in Mumbai.

LTU assistant general secretary, Steve Tatlow, said: "It is great news the Dudley call centre will not need to close.

"I Imagine that jobs will come back to Dudley as a result of this news."

Mr Pearson pledged to contact Lloyds TSB managers for clarification about claims the Dudley centre was under threat.