WORKERS in Hereford are among those to have lost their jobs as the credit crunch hits a Midlands firm.

W and J Scaffolding, which has bases in Hereford, Shrewsbury and Telford, has reduced its workforce by 30 people, blaming a downturn in the housing market.

Managing director Tony Hirst said the amount of workers was dependent on the level of contracts.

“The housing market has disappeared and that accounts for 20% of the work we get,” he said.

“Inner city regeneration, from which we usually get a lot of work, is falling by the wayside.”