THE Spa-based Customs and Excise Office will close, along with the Army Medals Office, a Government minister has announced.

But Dawn Primarolo, Treasury Minister, said: "It is neither the intention nor expectation that any member of staff will be made redundant as a result of the Droitwich office closure at the end of March 2006."

What Customs call 'the non-location specific work' at the Worcester Road office will be moved to principal office sites in Wolverhampton and Birmingham.

Now Customs are looking at the feasibility of relocating staff who carry out this work in the Spa to the offices in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and possibly Coventry.

Ms Primarolo said: "All staff currently based in Droitwich are being consulted on an individual basis about the practicalities of them following their work. In cases where it is neither practicable nor reasonable for people to do so, Customs will work with other Government departments in the locality to find other job opportunities for them."

However Droitwich MP Peter Luff is angry about the knock-on effects of the closure.

Mr Luff said: "The Ministry of Defence's scandalous and short-sighted decision to close their medal office in a squalid attempt to raise short-term cash from the sale of the site caused misery and uncertainty to their own staff.

"Now it looks set to do exactly the same to other public servants. I will be meeting members of staff in the Customs and Excise office next month to see what we can do to stop this closure but I am not optimistic."