BOSSES at Brintons Carpets have confirmed more than 50 employees have lost their jobs after a month-long consultation period ended last week.

It was announced in June, that Brintons proposed to restructure processes and reduce its headcount at the Stourport Road site by 60 full-time employees.

They also proposed to cease the weaving of Axminster carpets at the firm's Kidderminster site after more than 200 years.

But today, a spokesman for the company confirmed that 56 people have lost their jobs after the consultation ended on Tuesday, July 4.

A spokesman said: "I can now confirm that 44 Brintons employees - who had been employed at the Kidderminster site - left the company following the consultation process last week and 12 will leave this week."

The spokesman added that out of those 56, 17 had retired and 26 had already secured new employment.

Bosses had previously said the decision was being taken as the company looked to remain "competitive" globally and to maintain its position as a market leader.

Rob Greenfield, group manufacturing and logistics director, said: "Brintons operates in an extremely competitive global marketplace.

"In order to maintain and strengthen our position as one of the world's leading suppliers of bespoke carpets, it is vital we constantly review our business operations and are able to respond to prevailing trading conditions.

"The proposed restructure is part of our long-term strategy to safeguard the company's future interests."

The news comes days after the Shuttle revealed that the Carlyle Group had announced the sale of Brintons Carpets to private equity firm, Argand Partners LP, for an undisclosed sum.

New York and San Francisco-based Argand - which specialises in investments into global market leading companies within the industrial sector - has partnered with Brintons' senior management team to acquire 100 per cent of the iconic carpet firm from the Carlyle Group.

The Carlyle Group brought Brintons in September 2011.