Aerospace firm Bombardier has confirmed it will bring forward 95 redundancies at its Belfast operation, which had been planned for next year.

As part of the Canadian-owned firm's global restructuring, it announced in February that 1,080 posts were to go over a two year period.

However, a spokesperson said: "Having reviewed our requirements, unfortunately we need to pull forward to this year more of the workforce reductions that were expected to take place during 2017".

The advanced redundancies will accompany the ongoing cuts to contractors and agency workers, the company said.

"We appreciate that this is a very difficult time for our workforce and their families, and we are doing all we can to mitigate the numbers of compulsory redundancies," the spokesperson added.

We must continue to evaluate every opportunity to significantly reduce our costs and improve our competitiveness, in order to help secure our long-term future. Bombardier

Davy Thompson of the union Unite said: "We need to sit and have a discussion as to how, collectively, all the stakeholders can put forward a process that assists how we manufacture.

"We know there are issues with energy, we know there are issues with transportation costs, we know there are issues with infrastructure and we need this Stormont government to take this seriously".

He added: "It needs to be given urgent and immediate attention in order that we secure and sustain our heavy manufacturing industry within Northern Ireland."