A MAJOR beauty company based on the Isle of Wight has denied rumours of mass redundancies after pulling out of an expansion that had promised hundreds of jobs.

Liz Earle will not be boosting its site at Ryde Business Park - a move that would have seen the creation of 500 jobs - and it is understood that around 30 staff have left the company.

However the skincare company has dismissed rumours that up to 200 jobs are at risk and that co-founder Liz Earle has left the business, despite her resignation as director.

They have insisted that she still plays an integral role within the company and confirmed that the company was carrying out a consolidation of roles as part of an organisational review, which was undergoing a 30-day consultation process.