Closure of call centre in Essex by energy company E. On in June, which resulted in the loss of 600 jobs, is being decried as a devastating blow by local residents.

Terming the decision a terrible but a necessary tragedy, E. On said, as a part of streamlining of its customer care services, the company planned to create 'centres of excellence' in other parts of England after closing the Rayleigh Call Centre, which according to company authorities would result in the formation of a greater number of new jobs to cover the loss felt at Essex.

However, calling "every redundancy a personal tragedy", Dave Prentis, General Secretary of the Unison union said the loss of hundreds of jobs in Rayleigh would hit the families in the area very hard, and called on the government to intervene and help save their livelihoods.

"The decision to close the Rayleigh site was not a move that we've taken lightly", said Graham Bartlett, managing director of E. On's retail business, and added that it would offer relocation packages to certain employees while hoping that the majority would accept the decision as a necessity.

16,000 workers in the United Kingdom are presently employees of E. On.