A housing assocation for the elderly is closing its Kidlington headquarters with the loss of about 100 Jobs.

The 130 members of staff at the Anchor Trust's head office were shocked to discover the number of redundancies as part of a re-organisation.

Jobs in finance, information and human resources are expected to be axed, with the trust planning to replace its Kidlington operation with a small office for 25 "core staff".

Scores of wardens' jobs at sheltered homes -- five of which are in Oxfordshire -- are also under threat. Under the proposals, wardens would cover more than one home.

No staff redundancy notices have yet been issued, but Anchor said it did not anticipate many Kidlington staff would choose to relocate to Newcastle, where most of the work will be switched. Six of the trust's eleven main offices will close, with 400 jobs nationally being axed.

Chief executive John Belcher said: "I understand the concerns of staff affected and Anchor will work with them and our staff association to manage the personal impact of these changes."

Paul Francis, of the Anchor Group Staff Association, said staff were angry the trust had not consulted them.

Anchor Trust, founded in Oxford 35 years ago, provides retirement homes for rent and sale, as well as nursing homes and home care services.

With 27,000 tenants, it claims to be the biggest provider of housing for the elderly in England.

Anchor, a non profit organisation, moved from its base in Summertown to the Oxford Spires Business Park in Kidlington in 1995.

Kidlington remained the Trust's administrative centre even after it opened a central London office two years ago.

The Trust's links with Oxford go back to the housing charity's foundation in 1968, when it was established by Cecil Jackson Cole, the co-founder of Oxfam.