Up to 100 care worker jobs are said to be at risk at a council-owned company which provides services across Epping Forest.

Essex Cares, which was set up in 2009, made a pre-tax loss of more than £800,000 last year.

Essex County Council is the sole shareholder of the company, which is allowed to make profit out of providing health services to its clients.

The company runs care centres across the county, including in Torrington Drive, Loughton, and Shernbroke Road in Waltham Abbey.

It also provides home visits for the disabled and elderly.

In a statement, the firm's chairman Peter Martin said: "We are not a profitable organisation... this cannot continue if the company is to survive."

Public sector union Unison described the development as a “major concern” to staff, although it is not yet known where the redundancies will be made.

However, the BBC cites an internal report, which estimates 100 workers could be affected.

An Essex Cares spokesperson said: "The increasing demand for our services now and in the future means we need to be an organisation that is responsive to customers changing needs.

"The economy too is in a very different place from when we set up business five years ago and we need to become a more profitable and sustainable business.

"In recent months we have spoken and listened to our employees about how they see the future and what changes we can make that will help them deliver a great service for our customers."