JOBS are set to be axed and opening hours slashed at the Dorset History Centre in an attempt to cut £85,500 from its budget over the next three years.

A quarter of staff at the Dorchester-based centre, run jointly by Dorset County Council and Poole and Bournemouth borough councils, are facing redundancy as the service struggles to cut costs.

Proposals to close the centre on Mondays and Tuesdays and to reduce staff numbers from 22 to 16 have been presented to staff and unions.

Pamela Jefferies from public service union Unison said: "Coming on top of plans to transfer 13 local libraries out of council control, this is a further slap in the face for staff committed to providing a decent library service to the people of Dorset.

"We will be joining with users and members of the public to protest in the strongest terms about these cuts."

The centre, recently ranked in the top 10 per cent in England and Wales, houses a unique record of people and communities since the year 965, with more than six miles of archive material.

Dorset County Council has admitted the cuts will mean a reduced service to individual archive users and says the priority will be placed on maintaining access through education, outreach, community-based work and online access.

Steve Pitt, director of adult and community services for Dorset County Council, said: "The proposals to deliver a new service seek to preserve the best traditions of the service but recognise that there will need to be some reductions in services in the light of the budget situation."

A report will be presented to councillors at the next meeting of the Joint Archives Board on April 23, which will then make recommendations to the three partner councils.