Jobs go as Direct Line slashes costs

Direct Line Insurance plans to cut almost 900 jobs to make it more profitable as it heads towards a £3bn stock market listing.

Britain's largest motor insurer, part of Royal Bank of Scotland with brands including Churchill and Green Flag as well as Direct Line, said yesterday it planned to make 891 staff redundant in the first phase of a cost-cutting plan.

This includes closing its call centre in Teesside, north-east England. It also plans to cut costs at its head office in Bromley, south-east London.