THREE people have been made redundant by Oxford science company Accelerator Technology, a subsidiary of Oxford Instruments, whose profits have been hit by the strong pound and the Asian economic crisis.

Another ten people have not had their temporary contracts renewed and two people have been transferred to other divisions of the group, which employs several thousand in Oxfordshire.

Accelerator Technology managing director Alistair Smith said: "As with all businesses we have to control and reduce costs to remain profitable."

He said the lay-offs were caused by several factors, including the problems in the semiconductor industry which have sparked factory closures in the North East.

"In several parts of the world that we deal with, not just in the semiconductor industry, people are delaying capital decisions."

Accelerator Technology, which employs about 100 at Osney Mead, Oxford, is part of the Oxford Instruments group, which is heavily dependent on export sales.

Last year Oxford Instruments profits were hit by the strong pound and by spending on new premises, including the £9.5m Research Instruments factory at Tubney Wood and the £5.5m Industrial Analysis plant at Abingdon Business Park.

Dr Smith said no other redundancies were planned at Accelerator Technology.

"We think and believe that we have taken all the steps that are necessary," he added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.