Union officials have described yesterdays meeting with West Midlands MPs on the future of Ryton as constructive.

Amicus and T&G officials met at the DTI was with manufacturing minister Jackie Smith and with representatives from Job Centre Plus and Advantage West Midlands.

Amicus officer, Roger Maddison, says: "We had very constructive meetings with local MPs and with the manufacturing minister, Jacqui Smith. We accept that Ryton cannot be operated profitably on a three-shift system and are confident that a two-shift system can be achieved without compulsory redundancies.

“We now want assurances from the French that they will guarantee new products for Ryton and the long-term future of the plant."

The unions have arranged to meet with Jean-Martin Folz, chief executive of Peugeot in France later this month.