BT has revealed that 2,000 managers have left the telecoms giant since May, as part of the first wave of a restructuring that is likely to entail the departure of 5,000 managers.

Hanif Lalani, the finance director of the group, confirmed today that the total number of middle managers expected to leave as part of this programme was likely to be about 5,000.

This latest reorganisation of Britain's biggest telecoms group began in April, when the company said that the restructuring would lead to charges of about £450 million, which will generate a payback within two to three years.

However, the management departures, which are being conducted in consultation with the union, have been accompanied by the recruitment of 2,500 engineers.

"We are seeing a move away from managers to hire engineers and more front line staff," a spokesman said.

He declined to say how many more people would leave the company as the restructuring continues, but added that all departures would be on a voluntary basis.

News of the departures came as the company revealed the first increase in its consumer residential business for four years.

Consumer revenue, which includes traditional fixed lines, broadband, mobile and television services, was 3 per cent higher, reflecting the impact of a ferocious price war for residential consumers.

BT posted interim earnings up 3 per cent at £2.82 billion, on revenues 3 per cent higher at £10.1billion.

Revenue from so-called new-wave business — broadband, mobile and bundled IT services — on which BT is focusing rose by 10 per cent to £3.7 billion in the first six months of the year.

Ben Verwaayen, the chief executive, said: "This is another solid set of results ... the 22nd consecutive quarter of year on year growth in earnings per share.

"We are achieving significant transformation of our business which will deliver further efficiencies alongside faster, better, smarter services for our customers."

Shares in BT slid almost 4 per cent in opening trade, down 11.75p to 303.25p.

BT underlined its commitment to the broadband market and its declining dependency on the traditional fixed-line business by revealing that it supplies more than four million homes with the fast internet service, the first provider to break through that barrier.

Next year it will begin rolling out superfast 24 mb broadband, after beginning trials in the West Midlands last week.

Overall broadband revenues at BT were 12 per cent higher at £543 million, and net average revenues per customer household — calculated on a rolling 12-month basis — were up by £5 to £271, reflecting customers taking on more services from BT Vision, which involves a set-top box providing television programmes and film on-demand via broadband.

BT Vision has gained more than 100,000 orders since its launch.

Meanwhile, the traditional telephone businesses's decline appears to have slowed, with BT's revenues in this area falling by only1 per cent in the quarter.

BT said that this “reflects the robust defence of our traditional business in a highly competitive market".

A spokesman for Connect, which represents managers and other staff at BT said: “We welcome BT’s continued commitment to work with the union in dealing with the current restructuring of the company and to ensure that any reduction in jobs is dealt with via voluntary means."