STAFF at the National Trust have been given an unwelcome early Christmas present with the news that eight workers have been made redundant.

The employees are part of the IT department, based at Heelis in Kemble Drive. Steve Field, assistant press officer at the National Trust, said: "Eleven posts were outsourced to an external company SCC some time ago and now SCC not the National Trust are making seven posts redundant as was announced in August. "The National Trust has not axed its IT department, indeed we currently have 66 members of staff, plus contractors, still working in our IT department."

One disgruntled ex-employee said the charity had seen a boom of new members and claimed it has abandoned its workers at the most financially difficult time.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: “A lot of us have families and this is a really hard time to be made redundant.

“One of my colleagues has got a baby on the way and we all have mortgages to pay.

“I think they should have supported us through the Christmas period at least.”

Part of the IT department for the National Trust has already been farmed out to Birmingham-based company SCC but according to the worker, who has been with the company for five years, the quality of service provided could suffer.

He said: “We look after the servers for all the National Trust properties around the country so there is a lot of responsibility.

“I’m not sure this company will have the experience to deliver that same level of service.”

The man, from central Swindon, went on to say that although the company was painting a gloomy picture of its financial position 2009 had in fact been kind to its coffers.

He said: “The company has gone through a bit of a boom this year. They have seen increased members and with people not going on holidays abroad so much they have seen a lot business.

“I feel let down by an organisation that is supposed to pride itself on its good public image and work ethic. I feel they are using the economic downturn as an excuse.

“I think its disgraceful how they can treat its dedicated workers in this way and at Christmas – the National Trust leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

A spokesman for the National Trust said: “Though we’ve had a good year in terms of visitor numbers, like any large organisation we need to make sure we are running as efficient a business as possible.

“The changes that have been under consultation since early in the year help us to do this in a way that ensures we can offer the same level of IT service to the organisation.”