POLITICIANS have joined forces with workers to fight the closure of the Ingersoll Rand factory in Hindley Green.

Euro MP Terry Wynn has reacted angrily to US bosses' plan to shut the Swan Lane plant -- with the loss of another 106 jobs -- with all production switched to American and Chinese sister factories by the end of this year.

But Mr Wynn, a former marine engineer, said the news was a real "kick in the teeth" for workers -- and he pledged to join Leigh MP Andy Burnham in the fight to keep the power tools factory open.

He said: "The trend for manufacturers is now not only to move east to places like the Czech Republic but to the Far East for cheap labour.

"With countries in central and eastern Europe, the European Union can eventually drive up wages and standards to make them competitive with the UK, but it's difficult trying to influence the likes of China."

Welcoming Mr Wynn's support Mr Burnham said he had met with Ingersoll workers last Friday.

Back workers

He said: "Terry Wynn and I will back workers, but its ultimately down to them. The mood from the work force on Friday was of disappointment and anger, but some of them are resigned to losing their jobs. While some jobs may be lost, the workers have to be prepared to fight for their futures.

"There needs to be a determined effort to ensure as many jobs as possible are saved. For those people who may lose their jobs there must be a programme put in place to help retrain workers."

Jim Moseley, Amicus convener at the Hindley Green plant and an employee there for 33 years, said: "The management say these are only proposals at the moment to shut us down and we now have 90 days to consult, but in our heart we know there is not going to be a happy ending.

"We have done everything in our power to accommodate them and save jobs but it doesn't seem to have worked."