MORE than 100 West Midland workers were dealt a devastating pre-Christmas blow as major job losses were announced at Threshers off-licence chain and digger manufacturer JCB.

A total of 87 jobs are being cut with the closure of 15 off-licences across the West Midlands which form part of the stricken First Quench empire, owners of Threshers.

And Staffordshire-based JCB has announced plans for up to 196 more redundancies across five sites.