FIFTY civil servants are threatening to strike after hearing their jobs will move from Chester to a Liverpool call centre.

Processing assistants at Chester Inland Revenue office were told on Thursday that from July 3 they must report to Queens Dock in Liverpool.

A total of 250 jobs are being relocated from Cheshire and Warrington offices to expanded call centres.

Public and Commercial Services Union officials say most staff at Hamilton House, pictured, in Chester would have to travel more than an hour to Liverpool and this may cause problems for working mothers.

One staff member said: 'They are moving people with 20 years of experience in tax processing and putting them in a call centre dealing with queries about family tax credits - a job that only needs two weeks training. It is a waste of skills.'

HM Revenue and Customs spokesman Simon Oliver said: 'We are doing all we can to meet the needs of our staff but it is also important to accommodate the needs of our customers.'