WORKERS at Dorset's award-winning history centre fear even more jobs could be lost if plans to cut costs are followed through.

Bosses at Dorset County Council, Bournemouth Borough Council and the Borough of Poole, which all fund the Dorset History Centre, claim up to six full-time workers could be axed as part of a package of money-saving ideas.

But staff are worried that the real figure could be nine because the Dorchester centre's workforce is made up of a mixture of full-time and part-time workers.

One worker, who asked not to be named said: "Dorset County Council is being extremely disingenuous with its figures.

"There are 22 members of staff at the history centre in total made up from full and part-time employees - not 22 full-time equivalent.

"The proposals put forward by Dorset County Council indicate that they plan to cut nine posts, this means that nine people are set to lose their jobs not six.

"The three councils simply do not care for this country's heritage."

The county council said the proposed cuts to save £81,500 are because of difficult financial pressues. Other money-saving measures could include new opening hours. The current proposal is to open from Wednesdays to Saturdays inclusive, a reduction from the existing opening times.

A report will be presented to the next meeting of the Joint Archives Advisory Board on April 23 and will reflect the outcome of the consultation with staff and the trade union together with public comments.

Steve Pitt, director of adult and community services for Dorset County Council, said: "The proposals to deliver a new service seek to preserve the best traditions of the service but recognise that there will need to be some reduction in services in the light of the budget situation."