Centrica boss Iain Conn: Job cuts essential for 'efficiency'

The chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica, Iain Conn, has said the cutting of 6,000 jobs at the company was ''a very difficult thing to do'' which he ''did not take lightly at all''.

The announcement was made as Centrica reported a doubling of profits in the fist six months of the year.

Speaking to the BBC's John Moylan, Iain Conn said the move was necessary in order to compete effectively.

''We have got to be as efficient as possible,'' he said.