UP TO 56 jobs under threat at JCB have been saved after a weekend of talks involving company bosses and union officials.

Last week, the employees at the digger giant's global headquarters in Rocester were told their positions were no longer safe.

Bosses explained a "seasonal drop" in agricultural orders and a continual slow market could mean further cuts.

A formal 30-day consultation period was launched last Friday afternoon.

However – after top brass spent two days locked in talks with unions – the redundancy process was brought to a dramatic halt and all vulnerable staff have been told their jobs are secure.

A further 50 jobs, at the company's Heavy Products plant, in Beamhurst, which had been at risk, are now also considered safe.

But despite the reprieves, JCB management have warned jobs still depend on the recovery of an ailing construction industry.

A spokesman for the firm said: "There were proposals which involved making redundancies and a HR1 notice was lodged on Friday afternoon.

"As a result of discussions over the weekend that form has now been withdrawn. However, we have to keep a close eye on the order book."

GMB union convener Gordon Richardson was delighted intensive talks between JCB and workers' representatives had kept a lid on redundancies.

He said: "It has all been finalised, there will be no redundancies at the moment, which is obviously great.

"Whether, it had anything to do with an American order is just speculation."

Mr Richardson admitted the news of further cuts had been a surprise.

But he added: "There is an inevitability about short-term working, which means people are not too shocked."

One worker explained life on the factory floor had been like an emotional roller-coaster.

He said: "It's been a massive up and down weekend. On Friday people went home feeling very black, fearing they were going to lose their jobs.

"But by 3pm on Monday, everyone was back smiling and laughing."

Last month, Heavy Products' 350-strong workforce voted to join their co-workers at other sites by returning to a 39-hour week.

The move was believed to have put the jobs of up to 50 workers at risk but Mr Richardson said the positions were now secure.

He said: "Heavy Products are safe. There has been a general upturn in production.

"It is welcome news and thanks largely to the hard work of shop stewards Dave Abercrombie and Frank Foned that cuts have been averted for the foreseeable future."

JCB has cut around 1,600 jobs in the past 12 months as the recession took its toll on orders. The firm now employs around 4,000 people in Staffordshire.