The company has blamed tough trading conditions for laying-off the staff, at its television factory on Plymouth.

The move will leave a workforce of about 450 staff.

The firm is one of the best-known manufacturing names in the region.

'Warning signals'

The news was broken to Toshiba staff on Friday afternoon.

The company is beginning a 90-day consultation period and it is likely to be early February before anyone has to leave their job.

The news will not come as a complete surprise to the business community.

BBC South West business correspondent Neil Gallacher said: "We've had warning signals aplenty coming out of Toshiba for the past few years."

Remaining committed

"The thing the company has indicated particular unhappiness with has been the fact that Britain hasn't joined the euro.

"This is a multinational company and their view is that their life would have been much easier if Britain had signed up."

Toshiba has said it remains committed to Plymouth.

The company said the restructuring will enable it to embrace new technologies.