Suttons Seeds is reportedly set to axe a total of 18 full-time jobs as it undertakes a remodelling of its business because of difficult market conditions.

Reports in the Torquay Herald Express quoted the company's Tom Sharples as saying: “As with almost all other retail sectors, the gardening marketplace has changed considerably in recent years.

“The pace of this change will only accelerate as this vibrant sector adapts to new entrants and new ways of serving existing and potential new gardeners.

“For over 200 years Suttons Seeds has helped shape the gardening landscape of the UK and we plan to continue doing this for many years to come.

“With this objective in mind we are remodelling our business in order to be able to most effectively meet the needs of our existing retail, online and catalogue customers.

“This change has involved transferring the skills of some staff into new parts of the business.

“However, it is likely to also result in up to 18 roles becoming redundant.

“We are working to minimise the impact on individual members of staff while ensuring the business will continue to innovate and thrive in the future.”