Up to 350 jobs will be lost after consumer giant Unilever announced it will close its sales and marketing offices in Kingston and Walton.

The company said the move was part of a wider reorganisation, but the cuts have raised concerns over Unilever's long term future in Kingston.

The company is merging three sales and marketing departments - in Kingston, Walton and Crawley - to a new operation based in Leatherhead. The merged site is expected to be operational by the end of 2008.

About 40 senior management roles are to be axed immediately with a further 310 jobs going, in three phases, by the end of next year.

Dave Lewis, chairman of Unilever's UK operating business, said the move was in line with the company's long term strategy and would allow it to focus on its retail arm.

He said: "The organisation will retain its deep brand and category knowledge, but will be simpler and faster with a greater emphasis on our retail customers." A Concerns the Walton and Kingston offices' days are numbered have been played down by the company - which owns well known brand names such as Domestos, Cif and PG Tips.

A Unilever spokesman said: "It is too early to speculate on the decision of what will happen to the buildings."

Unilever is one of Kingston's flagship companies, employing 400 people at its office in St James's Road.

Lisa Gagliani, chief executive of Kingston's chamber of commerce, said the company was not leaving.

She said: "We knew about this some months ago.

"The move is part of restructuring but we haven't heard they are going."