EMPLOYEES of a major county firm fear the blocking of a merger with another company will mean they will lose their jobs.

Up to 3,000 Worcestershire jobs could be under threat if Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt prevents March UK taking over GUS Home Shopping, which includes Reality, the former Kays Catalogue empire.

March UK employs 2,406 people at its head office, warehouses and depots in Worcester, with a further 468 workers at its distribution centre in Droitwich.

The company bought Reality, the home shopping operation of GUS, for £590m in May 2003, when it was renamed Shop Direct.

But Ms Hewitt ordered a full Competition Commission inquiry into the deal, which is now on hold. A decision is expected on Tuesday, December 23.

Amanda Sayce, a picker at Shop Direct's warehouse on Bromyard Road in Worcester, said she feared for her job.

"I knew something was going on but nothing has been stated to us as yet," she said.

I can't afford to lose my job as I'm a student at the moment and so I need a job to run my car and everything," she said.

"I'm hoping it just all sorts out really."

Another employee, who wished to remain anonymous, appeared to be in the dark about the jobs threat.

"All we've been told is we're meant to have an announcement on December 23," she said.

"We can't do much about it though - what happens happens doesn't it?"

Another employee felt he could do nothing about it.

"I can't see that they'd close this centre here because it's central to the midlands.

"It's out of our hands though," he said.

But the Union of Shop, Distribution and Allied Workers (USDAW), which represents 10,000 Shop Direct workers nationwide, is battling to ensure the merger goes ahead.

The union is expected to present its members' case to the Competition Commission next week.

"We hope the merger will go ahead because we think it has a strong business case," said a USDAW spokesman.