Oxfam is to axe 100 jobs from its Oxford headquarters, the charity has revealed.

The jobs will be lost over the next three years after a major shake-up which will save Oxfam £1m.

Staff have been told of the move and are being given priority for other jobs that become vacant within the charity.

At the same time, Oxfam, which employs 700 people at its Summertown base, is creating 31 new posts as part of the reorganisation. Administration, finance and regional manager posts will become redundant.

Oxfam's press officer Charles Walker said: "Improved communication systems such as e-mail and network computer systems have reduced the amount of administration within Oxfam.

"We are very hopeful that within the three-year timescale we will have found other jobs for our staff.

"Those affected by redundancy will also be given priority for positions which people have left through natural wastage."

Oxfam is creating eight new regional centres in Senegal, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Peru and Kenya for its worldwide relief programme which covers 70 countries.

Mr Walker added: "There has been a long consultation over this so the news has not come as a complete shock to our staff.

"The estimated £1m that will be saved will be used to continue our work in areas such as responding to natural disasters."

Stewart Wallis, Oxfam's International Director, said he did not want to lose any staff.

He said: "We are making these changes to make Oxfam more effective and efficient in tackling poverty around the world.

"We will be making every effort to find other jobs within Oxfam for people affected by the changes or help them in finding employment elsewhere."

Story date: Saturday 27 November

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