More than 30 jobs are at risk at an Avonmouth distribution centre for one of the UK's largest dairies.

Robert Wiseman Dairies plans to axe 33 jobs at the Bristol base as part of a reshuffle of its delivery network in the south of England.

The Glasgow-based firm is also proposing to cut 88 jobs in Bridgwater and dozens more at its site in Okehampton, Devon, because it is opening a £15 million distribution centre in Amesbury, Wiltshire, in November.

Lorries from Amesbury will deliver milk to London and the South East, taking over runs currently handled from Avonmouth and Wiseman's other depots in the south of England.

The new centre will recruit 300 staff, meaning the reorganisation will create 90 jobs.

All of the planned redundancies in Bristol and Bridgwater are in milk distribution.

The centre in Avonmouth employs about 250 staff and delivers milk all over the West and South Wales.

Retail statistics show that Robert Wiseman produces more than one in every four pints of milk sold in the country.

The firm has one of its largest dairy plants in Bridgwater, capable of producing 500 million litres of milk a year, as well as a delivery fleet.

Wiseman has begun the process of consultation with union representatives over the planned restructuring.

Group operations director Martyn Mulcahy said: "Whilst it is our intention to continue creating jobs in the South and South West, each of our facilities must match our overall operational requirements.

"We are committed to consulting with staff representatives at each stage of these reviews and have pledged to minimise any job losses and will offer relocation packages to those who may be affected."

The union official representing the workers who may lose their jobs in the reshuffle expressed disappointment at the plans.

John Gorle, national officer for the Union of Shop, Distribution and Allied Workers (Usdaw) said: "We welcome the opening of the depot at Amesbury and with it the creation of around 300 jobs.

"However, we are disappointed that this means the possible loss of nearly 210 jobs at Robert Wiseman Dairies sites in Bridgwater, Bristol and Okehampton.

"We are doing all we can to ensure that all our members are treated fairly during the process, and have begun local consultation today.

"This will allow our representatives to examine the business case and look at all the alternatives."

● Robert Wiseman Dairies was founded in East Kilbride, Scotland, in 1947 and has more than 4,500 staff.

It has three dairies in Scotland and four in England, including Okehampton and Bridgwater, as well as 15 distribution depots around Britain.