UP to 15 jobs are to be axed from Asda stores in Gwent following an announcement by the retail giant yesterday.

The cuts are part of a national reorganisation by the supermarket chain, which is owned by American firm Walmart.

A total of 1,400 UK jobs are to be axed, made up of around five management posts per store, as well as 200 management posts at Leeds HQ and its base for fashion operation George at Lutterworth, Leics.

The stores affected in Gwent are Blackwood, Newport and Cwmbran. The company said the changes meant it would be able to invest more in customer service.

Chief executive Andy Bond said the changes would "simplify, re-focus and re-energise" the business.

He said: "While our sales have slowed in recent months as the economy has tightened, Asda is no retail straggler.

"Over the past six years we've created an additional 40,000 jobs across Britain and experienced rapid growth."

But there was criticism of the company's tactics by the GMB, which represents the workforce.

Stewards claim some managers were reduced to tears. Asda has 279 stores and employs more than 140,000 full- and part-time staff, including 2,000 people at its Leeds HQ.