More than 300 jobs will be lost after staff at the tax office in Workington’s Lillyhall were told yesterday it will close in autumn 2018.

The Solway branch of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has battled for months to save the HM Revenues and Customs office.

PCS representative Garry Humphrey said: “Though obviously devastated by the news we can be encouraged by the clear commitment from HMRC to do everything possible to avoid local redundancies.

“HMRC are undertaking ongoing discussions with other locally-based government departments for staff redeployment opportunities.

“I am proud of the fact that the West Cumbrian campaign has in some way been able to hold the employer to account.”

It was announced last month that 150 extra staff would be recruited for temporary jobs.

Workers were told yesterday that a proposal for a stay of execution until at least 2020 had not been successful.

There is expected to be a similar announcement in Carlisle’s office on July 14 which would leave Cumbria with no tax offices.

Mr Humphrey added: “It is clear to see that this government’s statements that Cumbria will not lose out in a Northern Powerhouse are worthless.”

The union hopes staff could be trained for another public sector role.

Officials say the closures would be part of a 10-year modernisation programme to replace tax offices across the country with 13 regional hubs.

Nationally, HMRC wants to cut 58,000 full-time equivalent jobs to 51,000, saving £100 million a year by 2025.

Workington MP Sue Hayman, who supported the campaign to save the centre, said: “It’s really disappointing to hear this news and it comes back to the concerns we had all along that these are skilled, well-paid jobs which are going to be lost to West Cumbria.”

She plans to meet the relevant minister once the new Conservative leader is in place to discuss options and ask them to reconsider.