MORE workers are facing job losses in Newport as the town staggers to the end of a year in which around 2,000 have been thrown out of work.

About 26 are likely to be on the dole at SCA Packaging, formerly the long-established firm of Bowaters, which makes corrugated fibreboard boxes at its premises at the Alex-andra Dock.

The company announced this morning that the moulded products part of the operation is scheduled for closure, along with its sheet plant in Newent, Glouc-estershire, where a further 10 jobs are to go.

SCA blames a downturn in the electronics and telecommunications industry, with the consequent drop in demand for packaging, for the Newport plant closure.

A spokesman said it had reviewed the viability of the Newport operation.

"As a consequence of this review, SCA Packaging has entered into consultation with the relevant trade unions with a view to closing the moulded products operation from the end of January 2002," he said.

"The proposed closure may result in the loss of 26 jobs. The company will be consulting with employees and their representatives about the plan and the implications for their future."

SCA also said it would be looking at the possibility of redeployment.

In the last few years, the Alexandra Dock site has employed between 200 and 500 people and has recorded a turnover of between £10 million and £50 million.

Today's news on the jobs front comes at the end of a year which has seen the axe fall on around 2,000 people in Newport - at Llanwern steelworks, Alcan, Unigate and Pirelli.

There was, however, good news for Newport's NTL workers. The cable firm confirmed today around 50 jobs at its Newport call centre will be safe from a dramatic jobs cull of 4,000 throughout the UK.

The firm's Wales operations will have to shed 300 jobs, part of 4,000 to be lost in Britain as a whole.

NTL has already closed one call centre in Newport and contracts out the remaining one at Cleppa Park, Coedkernew, where 50 staff deal with inquiries from Virgin and Which Online customers.

A NTL spokeswoman confirmed that no jobs were being lost at Newport among call-centre operators.

NTL, which provides television, telephone and internet access, is trying to clear debts of £12 million .