MORE than 200 jobs could be axed in the area after two companies announced redundancies and another told its staff that their offices could relocate.

Business Information giant D&B have announced it is looking to make around 60 redundancies next month.

Furniture manufacturers William Bartlett have made a final 15 job losses and has also decided to shut down its 140-year-old business.

A further 130 jobs at the RAC in Bourne End are also in doubt, following the latest step in a major takeover.

D&B in Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe, told staff last week about the cuts, following their announcement in February that the company needed to make 400 losses worldwide.

Formerly known as Dun and Bradstreet, it moved to Wycombe about ten years ago and was a major employer, boasting state of the art technology at its huge site.

Wycombe MP Paul Goodman said an increase in taxes and regulation had put pressure on businesses, including Bartlett's.

He said: "I'm immensely sad that such a strong connection to the area and such a strong local tradition has found itself in this situation."

William Bartlett in Grafton Street, High Wycombe, is holding a 50 per cent furniture sale as part of its planned closure announced in December. The 80-strong workforce has been pruned down to just 15.

Owner, Jerome Bartlett said: "Market forces have determined this. It was a hard decision which we had to make. We chose to do it under our terms and get out in the correct way by honouring all debts and making redundancies."

Meanwhile, RAC staff in Boston Drive, Bourne End, were told last Wednesday that their site was "unlikely" to be kept. The company is currently in the process of a major take over by insurance giants Aviva.

It is anticipated that the RAC and Norwich Union head offices will be merged.

An RAC spokesman said: "It is unlikely we will end up with two head offices. We are not sure of the impact that will have."