BBC job cuts looming, staff look to strike

Hundreds of jobs are believed to be under threat as the BBC readies itself for another round of redundancies.

Reports suggest that staff numbers in the BBC's 2,000-strong news team are to be cut back, with the online news team also being reduced.

Earlier this year, BBC News teams were considering a 24-hour strike over management's plans for compulsory redundancies. Around 3,800 staff across the corporation have already been part of a voluntary redundancy programme.

Following the voluntary redundancy of three staff, the nine remaining members of the soon-to-be closed BBC children's education unit are to ballot for strike action against their compulsory redundancies.

The potential job losses come as part of a decision to create a new department of news, factual and learning, which will bring Blue Peter, Newsround and educational programmes under one group.