NEW Look staff were summoned into an office and told they were going to lose their jobs in a process that has been described as ‘like lambs to the slaughter’.

A company insider has lifted the lid on life in New Look House after the Echo revealed earlier this week how dozens of jobs were facing the axe.

The worker, who doesn’t want to be identified, told how rumours claimed that up to 80 posts could be lost at the Mercery Road, Wey-mouth, offices of the retail giant.

She said the worst thing about the process was that no-one seemed to know what was going on and were left ‘stumbling in the dark.’ The Echo reported on Wednesday the shock news that jobs were being lost, the latest in a long line of cuts at the site.

News emerged just before the company announced poor annual sales figures, blamed in part on the firm moving its buying team from Weymouth to London in 2009.

The worker described the atmosphere in the offices this week as ‘terrible.’ She said: “At the beginning of the week within the space of three hours people were called one by one into the office to be told their job was no longer necessary because of a restructuring process. It was like lambs to the slaughter.

“It was awful. People were in tears. It’s affected people across the board; in human resources, property, IT.”

The worker said a range of different posts in different departments were affected including those held by experienced managers. Some of those affected have already gone.

The insider said: “Some have left already while others are waiting to go. A lot of senior people have gone and there’s a lot of empty desks.

“It’s frustrating because we haven’t been told anything. It’s a terrible atmosphere.

“We’re not getting any answers.”

She said there had been speculation for some time about job cuts leading to a feeling of ‘insecurity.’ She added: “I heard it was 40 jobs they were looking to get rid of but someone said it could be as many as 80. That’s just a rumour.

“We will have to see what happens over the next few weeks.”

The worker said there had been conflicting reports why New Look was getting rid of people but questioned why the company had then opened several new stores this year.

A New Look spokesman refused to comment on job losses due to a ‘legal process.’