STAFF who face losing their jobs when the HMRC offices close in Teesside next year are being offered two years' more work – if they are prepared to work in Peterlee.

More than 400 jobs will go from Teesside when George Stephenson House, in Thornaby, closes in September 2020.

But around 100 staff on Teesside have been offered posts with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Staff were told this week that the under-threat site was definitely closing and the jobs will relocate to the HMRC offices in Longbenton, north of Newcastle

But due to the three extra hours of commuting each day, only four per cent of staff surveyed by unions were able to move to the Tyneside site.

An HMRC spokesman said yesterday that staff would have the chance to move to Peterlee, which is remaining open until 2022-2023, or a temporary transitional centre in Washington until 2024-2025.

He added: “HMRC is transforming into a more highly-skilled organisation offering modern, digital services to create a tax authority fit for the future. It has secured sites for all of its future regional centres serving every region and country of the United Kingdom and they are in locations where the majority of HMRC employees are already based.”

“We continue to support our people on Teesside to relocate to Peterlee or Washington ahead of a move to the Newcastle Regional Centre. We recognise some staff will not be able to move and we will work with them to try to find them alternative solutions.”

HMRC held one-to-one meetings between staff and managers to look at different circumstances.

The spokesman added:"We will support those who cannot move on an individual basis to work through all possible options, including identifying opportunities in other government departments.

"To date 100 staff on Teesside have been offered posts in DWP through the streamlined process. Those who have extended travel arrangements may be given assistance with additional travel costs for between three and five years."