Workers will today begin a month-long "crusade" aimed at keeping open 43 factories which employ disabled staff.

Unions are organising marches and public meetings throughout Scotland, England and Wales and will call at each of the Remploy sites earmarked for closure.

The campaign will start in Aberdeen and will end outside the Labour Party annual conference in Bournemouth, next month.

The GMB, Unite and Community are increasing their campaign to save the factories and the 2,500 jobs, which will be lost.

John Quigley, Scottish Regional Secretary of Unite, said: "This will be a truly historic event and it has to succeed otherwise many disabled people will find themselves out of work and without hope for the future.

"I would rather we did not have to do this, but Remploy and the Government leave us no choice."

Phil Davies, of the GMB, said unions were determined not to stand by and allow the factories to close.