TWO Newport women are among the first to be laid off from a new 118 call centre.

Around 110 workers at the 11 88 88 Cardiff-based operator had their contracts terminated after a slump in calls.

Hayley Turner, 21, and Heather Jones, 19, both from Newport, were among the 45 who lost their jobs on Wednesday.

Angry Ms Jones was due to sign contracts for a new flat, but losing her job has left her strapped for cash.

Ms Jones, who will move in with her boyfriend, said: "We're still signing but he'll have to pay for it.

"I've got to get another job quickly. Anywhere will do."

The blow came on Tuesday lunchtime at the call centre in Hodge House, near St Mary's Street.

Ms Turner, of Langstone, said: "We certainly weren't expecting this. In the beginning they were telling us it was going to be really busy.

"But we were told our contracts were finished. It was 'get your stuff and go'. They didn't even give us until Friday."

Ms Turner had worked at the centre for eight weeks. When 192 directory enquiries was officially abolished on Saturday, the rate of calls was expected to rise. But Hayley said calls tailed off.

Fortunately, Ms Turner has already found another job working as a waitress in Newport.

Ms Jones is due to start Nash College next week to study A-levels. She said: "My rotas had all been worked out around college. Now I'll have to find something else."

The company Conduit runs the 11 88 88 service. It claimed extra workers were taken on temporarily in the full knowledge they might lose their jobs quickly.

A spokesman said: "It was not possible to predict the levels of calls made to various 118 services once 192 was switched off."