Shop Direct has delayed call centre closure plans after extending talks with Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) local MP Lembit Opik, reports Call Centre Focus.

Littlewoods and Kays owner, Shop Direct announced earlier this year that the organisation intended to shut three of its call centres in Newtown, Sunderland and Burnley, with the loss of a total of 1,500 staff.

The Newtown site which was due to close in June has been postponed after the consultation talks. The closure dates for both Burnley and Sunderland centres however, are still being discussed.

‘Shop Direct Group can confirm that the proposed closure date for the Newtown contact centre has been extended to the end of December 2010 to allow time to investigate further options with third parties for avoiding redundancies at Newtown,’ Shop Direct said.