DOZENS of jobs at an internationally-renowned department of Aberystwyth University could be axed as part of the institution's ongoing cost-cutting exercise, the Cambrian News can reveal.

Around 70 staff at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) have received letters which are said to put some of them at risk of redundancy, as the university starts the ball rolling on a consultation in a bid to reduce the number of staff.

Aberystwyth University wants to cut 30 of the 300 jobs at IBERS.

The university announced in 2017 that they wanted to make savings of £11m over two years, which would involve cutting around 150 jobs.

The university said in a statement: "The proposals aim to balance income and expenditure, and are part of a wider strategy to ensure the long term sustainability and continued success of this historic university.

"IBERS is the largest university department with over 300 staff. Once approved, the proposals would lead to a reduction in the number of posts by 30.

"No final decisions will be made until the consultation with staff and the trade unions has ended.

"IBERS is fully committed to continuing its groundbreaking plant breeding research by working closely with industry and using the latest technologies to develop future crops."