My Amber Valley

DERBYSHIRE chocolate retailer Thorntons is set to axe 35 staff from its head office in Somercotes. The jobs will go in the wake of a review of its operations carried out during the last few weeks. Staff affected are expected to be made redundant during the next three months. The cost-cutting move was revealed as the company said sales declines worsened in recent weeks. Hot weather blamed for the trading lull. The summer period is traditionally Thorntons' weakest but a stock overhang has also forced the firm to cut prices more sharply than expected.