Fox's factory fight backed by MP

An MP has said she will fight to save the Fox's biscuit factory in Staffordshire.

Northern Foods wants to merge its plants in Uttoxeter and Batley, West Yorkshire, and build a new factory on one of the sites by 2011.

It has not decided which site to close. The Uttoxeter site employs 950 people while 1,280 staff work at Batley.

Janet Dean, Labour MP for Burton, said it would be a "tragedy" if the Uttoxeter plant closed.

She said she had signed a petition launched by workers in a bid to save their factory.

She added: "Generations of people from the Uttoxeter area have worked at Fox's and it would be a tragedy if we were to lose the factory."

Old factories

Northern Foods has said staff at the factory which is closed will be offered jobs at the new site.

It has said both factories are old and in need of investment.

It has begun a period of consultation with regional development agencies, local councils and unions.

A final decision is expected in early 2009.