More than 400 former MG Rover workers have found new jobs with the help of a task force set up to deal with the aftermath of closure of Longbridge, it was announced today.

A total of 423 ex-Rover employees have found work and a further 800 are on training courses.

More than £2m has been paid to firms that used to supply the collapsed carmaker in emergency grants which has safeguarded almost 2,500 jobs in the short term.

The figures were given today to new Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson when he made his first visit to the West Midlands since his appointment.

Johnson visited Rimstock, one of the firms to be given aid aimed at helping it stay in business despite losing orders as a result of Rover's demise.

Nick Paul, chairman of the Rover task force, says: "There is still a long way to go before the remainder of the 5,000 or more employees from MG Rover, its supply chain and at other companies like Marconi and Peugeot are found new jobs and we are working around the clock to help them do just that.

"Our priorities now are to ensure that as many former workers as possible are accessing all the help that is available for training and for taking up new vacancies. I know I speak on behalf of my fellow task force members when I say that I won't be happy until we get MG Rover workers and others back into skilled and well-paid jobs.”