WORKERS at chemical plant on the outskirts of Hartlepool have been warned: "Your jobs would be at risk under the Liberal Democrats".

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt visited the Huntsman site at Greatham yesterday to say that Labour had safeguarded almost 750 chemical industry jobs on Teesside with a £16.5m grant.

Ms Hewitt, who was in Hartlepool to support by-election candidate Iain Wright, said the LibDems would scrap support to businesses and put jobs in jeopardy.

She told staff: "Labour is committed to bringing more jobs to Hartlepool and the region - that is why we have awarded the company a £16.5m grant to expand.

"But be under no doubt, your jobs would be at risk under the Liberal Democrats because they would abolish the support Labour is giving to businesses and industry on Teesside."

A LibDem spokesman said the attack was pathetic and said: "You would think the Government would be boasting about their seven years of achievement rather than the policies of another party."

Mr Wright said: "I am committed to working with the Government to bring more jobs to Hartlepool so unemployment can keep going down in the town."

* Conservative Shadow Home Secretary David Davis will join candidate Jeremy Middleton on the campaign trail today.

The pair will visit a shopping precinct on the Fens estate, where traders have complained about gangs of youngsters congregating in the evenings.

They will talk to shopkeepers in Catcote Road about the problems of anti-social behaviour and youth crime.

The leader of the UK Independence Party, Roger Knapman, will also be in the constituency today to support candidate Stephen Allison.