STAFF at Crewe Works have been told more jobs may face the axe unless they improve their performance and help to secure orders.

The stark ultimatum came after 91 white-collar workers were made redundant in restructuring measures by troubled firm Bombardier.

While the Crewe maintenance plant was saved from closure, the Canadian company has warned the long-term future is far from guaranteed.

Bombardier spokeswoman Clare Paton said the plant must undergo an 'improvement programme', which had the 'potential to spark further job cuts'.

She added: 'The programme is basically an assessment of the plant to indicate its performance in terms of production levels and efficiency.

'There is the potential there may be more redundancies in Crewe, and we will now be consulting with the union representatives at the plant.

'This is about prioritising the way our plants work. It is not just about jobs, but about bringing down our overheads and looking at ways we can improve.'

Amicus convener for the plant Mick Roberts fears the programme may bring more losses, which could impact on the morale of the workforce.

He said: 'There is a clear inference that this is the first stage of a process and this is about a company that is keen to ensure stays number one in the market.

'It has shown it is prepared to be aggressive and that is a worry. We have come through the restructuring and now it is clear we may be judged on our performance.'

Mr Roberts said the railway industry rarely sees large profit margins and believes targets expected to be set at about 15% may be 'out of reach'.

He added: 'Not only have we got ongoing job losses but we have seen plant closures in the UK and people are feeling more vulnerable.

'We are not walking away from the need to improve, but there is still this idea that unachievable targets may mean more people would be out of work.'

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council leader Peter Kent said he would be looking for assurances from the firm that jobs were safe.

He said: 'What we need to know is where its position is in terms of the company's long-term plans.

'What won't be acceptable is if they turn round in six months time and say 'now we have to make some more'. If they do come back and say that, it would be cruel to the workforce.'

Borough council local economy portfolio holder Steve Hogben said: 'Chances are there could be future jobs cuts, and that is a concern.

'Bombardier need to come clean on their vision for the future in Crewe.'