SCORES of workers at a Hampshire depot are facing an agonising wait to see if they have a job after being told they face redundancy on Christmas Day.

Nearly 80 employees at City Link's Fareham depot spent Christmas Day coming to terms with the prospect of losing their job after an announcement that the courier firm had plunged into administration.

Union bosses have branded the handling of the news as “disgraceful” and last night demanded “urgent talks” with Business Secretary Vince Cable as nearly 3,000 people nationwide face unemployment.

City Link called in administrators from professional services firm EY after years of “substantial losses” and suspended all deliveries.

Residents across the county who were expecting deliveries with City Link will now have to wait until Monday before they can collect their parcels.

The Daily Echo reported on the opening a new “flagship depot” at Fareham Industrial Park enabling the company to expand its operation in the region in October last year.

The depot was created following a £500,000 investment from the company to employ 77 staff, including two apprentices, and operate 56 collection and delivery vehicles which would handle 4,200 items a night.

Daily Echo:

Leader of Fareham Borough Council Sean Woodward said it was the “worst possible news” for City Link employees.

He said: “It's very, very sad news. It must have been very devastating for the work force.

“It's obviously very worrying. The main problem is that there is no one employees can speak to until Monday.

“I think the timing is bad but you can never judge when a company is going to go under.”

The company, which counted John Lewis among its largest clients, now expects numerous redundancies after no buyer could be found to bail it out.

Cllr Woodward added: “My thoughts are with them but we will do all we can to assist. One hopes that the administrators find a buyer for the firm.”

The RMT said it had been told City Link was in administration on Christmas Eve, a fact neither the company or the administrators were prepared to confirm publicly until the following day.

Mick Cash, the RMT General Secretary, said: “The delayed timing of the announcement that City Link was in administration to tea time on Christmas Day stinks to high heaven.

“Not only was it the most brutal and callous way to treat nearly 3,000 staff but RMT believes there may have been more cynical motives behind it which we want the Government to investigate.”

Administrators said City Link Ltd, which was bought by investment firm Better Capital for just £1 in April last year, incurred substantial losses over several years.

Hunter Kelly, joint administrator to City Link, said: “The strain of these losses became too great and all but used up Better Capital's £40 million investment, which was made in 2013 and intended to help to turn around the company.

“Despite the best efforts to save City Link Limited, including marketing the company for sale, it could not continue to operate as a going concern and administrators were appointed.”