GAZETTE & HERALD: A CLINICAL research company in Chippenham shocked its employees by announcing 17 redundancies last Friday, just weeks after a rumour circulated that the business could be axed in 18 months' time.

American company, Omnicare Clinical Research Limited, based on Bumpers Farm industrial estate, told staff their jobs were at risk and they didn't have to come back to work.

The disgruntled employees from the data management team left immediately and vowed not to return.

The redundancies ranged from management to data entry personnel.

One worker, who asked to remain anonymous because she is breaching a confidentiality agreement she signed with the company, said: "I'm just getting over the shock. I'm very bitter at the moment."

On Friday managers took the 17 employees one by one and told them their jobs were at risk and they didn't have to come back to work.

If they wanted to, they would have to make an appointment.

This came as a terrible shock to those concerned, as some have been with the company for almost ten years.

"We were all very loyal to the company and they didn't treat us very well at all," said the employee

"They told us to support each other, but there wasn't much support from anyone else."

Clinical Research Limited, a subsidiary of Omnicare Clinical Research, is a contract research organisation which provides drug research and development services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in the UK.

It has been based in Chippenham for about 15 years.

Alexandra Thwaite of Omnicare Clinical Research Ltd, said in a statement: "We announced on Friday that due to a downturn in data management business within the UK, 17 jobs were 'at risk'.

"We are currently going through a period of individual consultation so cannot provide further details at this time."