JUST days after the Queen's visit to his Malmesbury factory, James Dyson has shed 118 of his 282 tem-porary workforce, blaming the strength of the pound.

The jobs are going on the pro-duction line and in the moulding factory at the plant.

The cutbacks at Dyson come six weeks after the town's other major employer, Lucent Technologies, announced that it is to close its factory, relocating to Swindon.

Dyson spokesman, Victoria Savill, said the temporary em-ployees had been employed at Dyson for one month or more and were working flexible shifts.

She said the cut backs were due to the strength of the pound, but added that sales of Dyson vacuum cleaners and washing machines remained strong in Europe.

"Like any business, Dyson uses temporary workers to give us flexibility," said Ms Savill.

"Demand fluctuates and to be a competitive manufacturer we have to react to market conditions."

She said investment has been made in the mould shop at the factory and to two new vacuum cleaner production lines.

"This has made production more efficient," said Ms Savill.

She said Dyson would continue to employ temporary workers when needed.

She added that all cylinder production would move to Dyson's manufacturing facility in Malay-sia, where vacuum cleaners have been manufactured for Australia and the Far East for over a year.

Ms Savill stressed the cutbacks were not related to the expansion of activities in Malaysia.

"Nearly 60 per cent of all vacuum cleaners bought in the UK are uprights.

"We continue to produce thousands of machines per day in Malmesbury," said Ms Savill.

The temporary workers are employed through a worldwide agency, with branches across the country, including Swindon and Bristol.

Ms Savill said some of the employees have moved to jobs on the washing machine production line and in the post room.

Mr Dyson, 51, who lives in Great Somerford, employs around 1,800 staff in total at Malmesbury.

Last November, millions of pounds was invested in a new production facility for the Contra-rotator washing machine.

Edmund Addington, 18, of Hilmarton, near Calne, worked temporarily in the mould shop between October 8 and November 26. He said staff would be shocked by the news of cutbacks.

"Everyone knew that they were there on a day-to-day basis and could turn up one day and be sent home at any time," said Mr Adding-ton.

, who now works at Fortnum and Mason, in London's Piccadilly.

"I am shocked but I knew that temporary workers could be laid off at any time."

Mike Williams, the chief executive of the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce, said companies in the manufacturing sector had experienced a slow-down in trade over the past two years.

"At Dyson, here is another example of a manufacturing company cutting back on staff, albeit temporary staff, and it will be very difficult for those employees, particularly at this time of year," said Mr Williams.

Ms Savill also pointed out that Dyson has made a long term investment in its mould shop, and has increased the presses from 20 to 36.