One of the Southampton's biggest employers has announced plans to axe 70 jobs.

Mapping giant Ordnance Survey, which has its HQ at Nursling, says it is in talks with unions over a staff "restructure".

There are 838 staff based at Nursling the bulk of its 1,100 workforce.

A statement issued by OS said: "The restructuring announcement forms part of a new business strategy which will see OS creating three distinct market facing units - consumer (serving our leisure users), OS Ventures (seeking competitive opportunities) and OSGB (serving the core needs of government and partners).

"The strategy will focus on delivering OS’s vision to be the world’s most inspiring and trusted geospatial partner."

A spokesman for OS said the  the consultation with staff started yesterday and will run until the end of May.

The agency reported revenue of around £140m in the year 2015/16 and is expected to do the same this year.

In 2015 the OS moved from being a Trading Fund and Government Agency into a Government‑owned Company.

In recent years there has been speculation that the government will sell off the OS to a private buyer.

The OS, which celebrated its 225th anniversary in 2016 has been based in Southampton since 1841.