after offering voluntary retirement to a host of staff.

A celebration leaving party was held last week after 31 of the 38 staff offered the pension packages opted to clear their desks and retire. The figure represents 7.75 percent of the company's 400 strong workforce.

Those offered the package had to be 55 years old or older and also had to have served a minimum of 20 years with the company.

But yesterday BTC spokeswoman Karla Lacey-Minors stressed that the development had not left the company short-staffed.

"There was a voluntary plan for 38 employees and 31 of them decided to make the choice of taking that plan,'' she said.

"We had a big celebration for them on Friday to recognise their contribution to the company.

"Only seven of the 31 jobs were management positions and basically we are now looking at those to see which ones will be replaced.

"As it was a voluntary plan there was a certain amount of uncertainty as to who would choose to take it. But we were prepared for the probability that everyone would take it.''