SOME 150 workers at GlaxoSmithKline's Ulverston plant have put themselves forward for voluntary redundancy.

The level of interest exceeds the 100 jobs the pharmaceuticals giant announced it was seeking to cut before Christmas, citing competition from copycat drugs.

Site director Kevin Hughes said not all those who had expressed an interest in redundancy would be laid off and offered reassurance about the plant's future: "The cuts we are seeking are specifically to keep us competitive. If we keep competitive we won't have to close."