UK's Halfords says to cut 250 jobs

LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Halfords Group (HFD.L), the car maintenance chain and retailer of cycles, said on Monday it would cut around 250 jobs as the impact of the economic downturn bites.

Halfords, which runs 455 stores selling items such as spark plugs, car radios and bicycles, said around 200 jobs would go at its retail outlets in the UK and 50 at its head office in Worcestershire, England.

"The current economic downturn is heavily impacting upon the British retail market, and in order to create a platform for growth in this tough trading environment, we must review those activities within the business that can be carried out more effectively," Halfords said in a statement.

"The review will result in the loss of around 50 roles in head office, which represents less than 7 percent of the workforce, and 200 roles in our stores, which represents around 2 percent of colleagues working in stores," the statement added. (Reporting by Rhys Jones, editing by Will Waterman)