THE Prime Minister met a task force privately yesterday to discuss the future of workers at the doomed LG Philips electronics plant.

Mr Blair, who pledged Government support when it was announced the factory in Belmont, Durham City, was to close with the loss of 760 jobs, had personally requested the meeting to seek assurances that everything was being done to find jobs for workers.

During a visit to the region, he met the LG Philips task force, which includes plant management, trade unions, regional development agency One NorthEast, the Learning and Skills Council and local councils.

Roberta Blackman-Woods, who hopes to succeed Gerry Steinberg as the next Labour MP for Durham City, said Mr Blair had wanted an update on the situation.

She said afterwards: "It was an extremely positive meeting attended by the management of the factory, trade union representatives, as well as the response unit (the task force).

"Everyone accepted that all that could be done was being done - not only in terms of getting training and job offers. They are also starting to think of clearing and marketing the site, so that we are not left with an empty building."

She added: "Mr Blair got a lot of reassurance from workers, managers and agencies that the support package is now in place - and they are happy with it.

"We are liaising with managers to ensure workers get released for training before July.

"They are skilled workers and can be used in places. The Learning Skills Council is very confident about their skills being needed by other employers."

Mr Blair's own constituency is near the LG Philips plant, which has been making TV tubes for more than 30 years, and many workers live in the Sedgefield area.

Ms Blackman-Woods said it was hoped that 90 per cent of the workforce would have suitable new jobs by September.

Each worker would sit down next week to discuss redundancy terms, she said.

l Meanwhile, on a personal note, Mr Blair took time out to offer condolences to Amicus convenor Bill Blakelock, whose eight-year-old grandson, Liam Blakelock, has died in a house fire.

Ms Blackman-Woods said: "The Prime Minister had known that he had this personal tragedy. He took him outside and had some words with him and expressed his condolonces."

Liam died after fire swept through his home in Broome Road, Carville, Durham, on Tuesday, March 8. His 38-year-old mother Kathryn and three-year-old brother Shaun were carried unconscious from the house and resuscitated on the lawn.

Liam's funeral will be held at the St Mary Magdalene Church, in High Street, Carville, at 10.15am today.