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Morrisons, the UK's fourth-biggest supermarket chain, is to cut 1,500 middle management jobs.

Workers at threat of redundancy will be encouraged to apply for 800 existing management vacancies, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ understands.

At the same time, Morrisons will create 1,700 more junior, customer-facing roles.

The move follows announcements of job losses by Sainsbury's and Tesco in January.

Gary Mills, Morrisons retail director, said: "Our aim is to serve customers better with more front-line colleagues in stores improving product availability and helping customers at the checkouts.

"Very regrettably, there will be a period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals and we'll be supporting them through this important process.

"Our commitment is to redeploy as many affected colleagues as possible."